Hello Neighbor, 

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Fourth of July holiday weekend. In between the barbecues, lake days, and fireworks, the Fourth of July is a wonderful time to be thankful for the freedoms and opportunities we have as Americans and Michiganders, while also reflecting on the work we still have to do to secure the American Dream for all people for years to come.

I spent time over the holiday weekend reflecting on the 2025 State Budget my Senate Democratic colleagues worked to recently pass. While compromises must be made in the budget process, I am proud of the work we did to design a budget that builds up our vibrant communities, our schools, and supports our residents of all backgrounds. Find more information about the 2025 state budget in this eNews below.

As always, if you or someone you know would like to provide any feedback about what’s happening in Lansing, or needs assistance of any sort, please feel free to reach out to my office. You can contact me by sending an email to [email protected] or calling 517-373-7918.     In Solidarity,

Darrin Camilleri
State Senator
District 4

In Recent News

Happy Fourth of July from the Senate Democratic Majority 

The Fourth of July celebrates the signing of our Declaration of Independence and the beginning of our great American experiment. The United States was founded on the belief that our nation should be a democracy where individual voices are not only heard but represented and respected in government and where every citizen can live freely and confidently.

My Democratic colleagues and I celebrated the birth of our nation this Fourth of July and are continuing to uphold America’s democratic foundations and principles. From expanding civil rights protections for the LGBTQ+ community and natural hairstyles to implementing common-sense gun laws, expanding access to the ballot box, and enshrining basic healthcare rights, such as abortion, in the state constitution, Senate Democrats are committed to the pursuit of a more just, equitable, and democratic state and nation.

On the Fourth, my team and I walked in the Wyandotte Independence Day Parade. We had a great time and it was so nice to see so many community members out celebrating.  

Legislative Updates  

Senate Democrats Pass State Budget Dedicated to Building Up Michigan 

Two weeks ago, Senate Democrats successfully finished negotiations with the House on the state budget. The Fiscal Year 2025 State Budget builds on last year’s transformative budget by continuing to invest in children and families, students and workers, public safety, community development, and more. 

This Democratic majority views the state budget as both a values statement and a financial plan. Our cornerstones for the 2025 budget — transformational, innovative, equitable, and intentional — reflect the priorities established last year.

While no budget is perfect, I’m proud of the work my colleagues and I did on your behalf. As chair of the Senate Pre-K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee, I worked hard throughout the negotiation process to ensure your children — Michigan’s students — are getting the best education from the best educators. Most notably, despite a drop in school aid revenue, we managed to create an education budget that sends almost $600 million directly back into Michigan classrooms and an additional $180 million specifically back into the pockets of teachers to help with healthcare costs. While we still have more work to do and more conversations are being had, hundreds of millions of dollars back into schools is a massive win for our students, teachers, parents, and state.

You can read more here. 

Michigan Senate Passes Legislative Package to Establish a State-Based Health Insurance Exchange 

Michigan Senate passed Senate Bills 633-638 to transition Michigan away from the federally managed health insurance marketplace to a State-Based Exchange (SBE), helping to provide the state with greater flexibility to meet the healthcare needs of Michiganders, and I was proud to sponsor Senate Bill 637 in this package.

In the past decade, the Affordable Care Act has grown in popularity across the country and here in Michigan. During the 2024 open enrollment period, for example, 418,000 Michiganders purchased coverage through the federal marketplace, which was a 30% increase from the previous year and the highest enrollment rate in the state’s history.

This six-bill package amends Michigan’s insurance code to establish an SBE and lays out the parameters and duties of the exchange and governing board. As a result, the state would provide the infrastructure, website and support for individuals and small businesses to purchase plans beginning January 1, 2026. 

This legislation now heads to the Michigan House for their consideration.

As always, thank you for taking the time to stay updated with our office, and please feel free to reach out anytime if you have questions, comments, or concerns. My team and I will be around the community quite a bit this summer, so we hope to see you soon.