Early June 2025 Newsletter

Renewed Calls for House to Pass School Aid Budget, Start Negotiations
Sen. Darrin Camilleri this week called the delay by House Republicans to move a budget and begin budget talks unusual and urged the chamber to send its proposal to the Senate so final negotiations can begin.

"Let's talk about what they want to do," Camilleri (D-Trenton) said. "I'm ready to see their proposal and debate and get to a product that we can all agree with, but I can't do that until they put out a budget proposal."

Camilleri's comments came during an interview with MichMash, the Gongwer News Service podcast partnership with WDET Detroit Public Radio.

Camilleri chairs the Senate Appropriations Pre K-12 Subcommittee.

The Senate passed a school aid budget recommendation that includes $10,008 in per-pupil funding, $350 million for school safety and mental health supports and an increase of more than $250 million in at-risk student funding.

This spring Camilleri has repeatedly taken aim at the House-passed proposal that included about $15 billion, with a proposal for $10,025 in per-pupil funding but also removed several existing budget items. It was part of a bare-bones House proposal that Republican leadership has said would prevent a government shutdown from occurring if final negotiations hit a snag.

Democrats have ripped it as an unserious proposal that slashes funding for education and other critical state functions. Camilleri has called the GOP proposal a nonstarter in the Senate.

"Even with the budget that we passed, we are well situated to pass it as-is," Camilleri said. "I'm sure we're going to have some differences between the governor and whatever the House puts out because we're still waiting to see what their proposal is."

When asked if Camilleri has spoken to House Appropriations School Aid and Department of Education Subcommittee Chair Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw Township) on beginning to talk about the school aid budget, he said initial conversations have begun. He said the two spoke briefly during the Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference and have sought to schedule follow-up discussions.

Camilleri raised concerns that with a statutory July 1 deadline for the budget, a full House budget proposal still has not been put up for a vote.

A coalition of education groups in a Friday statement urged the House to move an education budget ahead of July 1, saying schools need certainty for the fiscal year which begins on that date.

"This deadline appears to be treated more as a suggestion than a requirement. It's past time for the Legislature to meet its obligation and provide districts the certainty they need," the coalition wrote. "We call on the House to release its spending plan and for lawmakers to come together and negotiate the School Aid Fund budget quickly."

Camilleri also was asked about Democrats' chances in the 2026 elections and holding the Senate. He is the chair for the Senate Democrats' campaign committee for the 2026 cycle.

He said the push by President Donald Trump's administration and congressional Republicans to cut government and programs including Medicaid could give Democrats a boost in the next elections.

"You're going to see reactions from people in the middle," Camilleri said. "They believed that by electing Donald Trump and some Republicans that prices would come down that the economy would get better, and that is just not happening. Anything that they're currently doing out of DC is only to favor the wealthy and the well-connected, and I do believe we'll be in a strong position to not only keep our Senate majority, but to expand it come 2026."

As to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan's gubernatorial campaign as an independent, Camilleri said it is unknown what his candidacy will have on the rest of the ballot or whether it would hurt Democrats.

He said he is not certain that an independent can win given the hurdles of overcoming the politics of the two political parties, but his candidacy will have an impact. Pointing to polling that has been released so far showing support as high as 20 percent, he was not sure if Duggan can rise any higher.

MDOT Wants to Set Rules to Fight 'Improper Use' of Rest Stops

Dems Reintroduce 'Polluter Pay' Package
Democrats are reintroducing legislation that they say would ensure those responsible for environmental contamination would be financially liable for its cleanup, a move that opponents have long said would stall the redevelopment of brownfield sites across the state.

In a Friday release, House and Senate Democrats announced their latest attempt at moving what they have labeled "polluter pay" legislation. The purpose, they said, would be to ensure responsible parties are tasked with cleaning up environmental damage at sites, enhancing cleanup requirements and improving residents' ability to cover damages and medical costs stemming from pollution.

"It's shocking that Michigan law doesn't require polluters to actually clean up their mess or even report on spills," Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) said in a statement. "I'm grateful to the many experts and stakeholders who helped us tailor these bills so that brownfield de-developers can continue to play their key role in cleaning up polluted sites. These bills put liability where it belongs: with the polluters, not the public."

Collectively, the package of House and Senate bills would do several things, including the reporting of more information about polluted sites and would require more hazardous materials to be removed or treated.

A process would be put in place for updating cleanup criteria and the rulemaking process would be amended so experts can update cleanup criteria.

Residents exposed to hazardous substances at polluted sites would also be able to recover costs from the responsible party to cover medical monitoring of potential health problems.

The statute of limitations would be amended under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require responsible parties to cover cleanup costs and environmental damages for items that cause contamination that were not regulated prior to 1994.

It would also extend the statute of limitations for hazardous substance claims. This, bill sponsors said, would enable those who more recently discovered the harm caused to them to sue.

Rep. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor) in a statement said companies for many years have been able to cause environmental damage at sites they operate and leave the cleanup bill behind for residents.

"If you pollute our water, poison our soil, or threaten public health – you pay to clean it up," Morgan said. "It's time we stand up for the people of Michigan and stop protecting billionaire corporations at public expense."

Similar legislation passed the Senate late last year but did not move further.

Mike Alaimo, senior director of legislative and external affairs with the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, said Friday the group is opposed to the bills.

He said the bills, while well-intentioned, miss the mark by going after the owners of sites. The proposed changes, he said, would deter investors from redeveloping brownfield sites and possibly lead to more development at greenfield sites.

"You're creating a real disincentive," Alaimo said. "These bills are non-starters as-is."

Alaimo said the Chamber remains willing to work with the Legislature on solutions to the problems involving contaminated sites, but the method in which the bill sponsors are proposing is not an effective route.

Nick Occhipinti, government affairs director for the League of Conservation Voters, in a statement echoed bill sponsors by saying companies that pollute land or sites should liable, not the public.

"The number of contaminated sites in Michigan continues to grow, threatening our economy and the health of Michigan families," Occhipinti said. "This much-needed legislation will increase transparency and help make progress on cleaning up thousands of contaminated sites across Michigan."

DCD OUT & ABOUT

Senator Mat Dunaskiss was happy to join Avinash Rachmale at a recent event hosted by the Indian American Chamber of Commerce.

Senator Mat was joined by State Rep. Donni Steele at a recent visit  and tour of Honor Community Health's newest building in Pontiac.

Justin Dunaskiss joined Spectrum Human Services CEO Josh Swaninger and others at their annual golf outing and dinner.

ARTICLES OF POLITICAL INTEREST:

Time to rewrite the Michigan Constitution? Voters Will Decide 2026 Ballot Proposal

A Steep Drop in Michigan Overdose Deaths, Thanks in Part to Narcan

Study of Invasive Mussels Finds PFAS Nearly Everywhere in Great Lakes

Billionaire Devos Family Backs New Effort to Make Michigan a GOP Stronghold

Benson Not the First Michigan Lawmaker Threatened with Impeachment

Marijuana News, Updates, & Articles of Interest

THE DCD MARIJUANA TEAM:  YOUR COMPETITIVE EDGE!

DCD continues to exist as the premier resource helping municipalities navigate the waters of cannabis policy. We would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have regarding medical or recreational cannabis policy, procedure, and more. DCD is available for presentations to municipal boards, for one-on-one meetings, and for consultations.

We are here to help you with: municipal lobbying, license application writing and assistance, business plans, state required operations manuals and compliance, facility design, corporate structure, and design and branding. 

We are experts in both medical and recreational cannabis policy and have been in the space for over ten years.  We welcome any opportunity to work with you in the future!

ARTICLES OF CANNABIS INTEREST:

Michigan Sheriff Pushes for Roadside Drug Testing, Calls Opposition .Smoke Show.

Marijuana Store Will Pay $205K to Settle a Worker's Lawsuit Over Lost Tips

Three Men Threatened with Armed Robbery of Coleman Marijuana Grow

Vitti Talks Pot Dangers, Fighting Poverty, & What Michigan Needs in Next State Superintendent

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