New: Whitmer to lay out ‘what’s next’ for Michigan in Aug. 30 speech ⋆ Michigan Advance

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer shows off her mittens featuring Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas during the Michigan Inauguration on Jan. 1, 2023. | Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will deliver a speech announcing her policy priorities for Michigan on Aug. 30.

Whitmer’s office announced Thursday that at the end of the month, as the legislature returns for session from summer recess, the governor will outline her priorities for the fall to “move Michigan forward” and expand opportunities in the state.

So far this year, Whitmer has signed over 100 bills into law from the new Democratic-majority Legislature. In a statement from her office Thursday, she said she looks forward to finishing the year out strong with continued partnership with the Legislature.

Whitmer signs LGBTQ+ non-discrimination bill into law alongside civil rights pioneer Mel Larsen

“This year, we got a heck of a lot done to put money back in people’s pockets, power our economic development efforts, and make record investments in education, housing, workforce programs and so much more,” Whitmer said. “In a few weeks, I look forward to outlining policy priorities for the fall in the What’s Next Address. I’m eager to discuss how we can continue lowering costs, growing our economy, and helping anyone ‘make it’ in Michigan.”

This comes after Whitmer this week signed the $57.4 billion general government budget for Fiscal Year 2024. Earlier, in July, she approved the $24.3 billion School Aid budget. The next fiscal year starts Oct. 1.

So far this year, Whitmer has signed a variety of policy bills, many of which are Democratic priorities that have taken multiple legislative sessions to make it to the governor’s desk for approval.

Michigan’s Civil Rights laws were amended to include protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ Michiganders in March, after the inclusion failed to move forward in the GOP-led Legislature for years.

Whitmer also signed into law several bills that were advocated for by survivors of disgraced Olympic Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar. After the world heard the stories of sexual abuse by the doctor from survivors lawmakers for years introduced and reintroduced bills to combat sexual violence in the state, with some elemnts being signed into law and some being left behind. There are still parts of the legislation, commonly known as the “Nassar bills” that are making their way through the Legislature.

Whitmer also signed legislation she has said makes good on the will of the people in the 2022 election where Michiganders approved proposals to amend the state’s election laws and establish the state constitutional right to an abortion. In April, Whitmer repealed the state’s 1931 law on the books that banned abortion.

In July, she signed into law early voting provisions, as well as measles aimed to make voting with absentee ballots more accessible. And Whitmer signed in March a repeal of the anti-union Right to Work law, which had been signed by her GOP predecessor, former Gov. Rick Snyder, in 2012.

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by Anna Liz Nichols, Michigan Advance August 3, 2023

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Anna Liz Nichols covers government and statewide issues, including criminal justice, environmental issues, education and domestic and sexual violence. Anna is a former state government reporter for The Associated Press and most recently was a reporter for the Detroit News. Anna is a graduate of Michigan State University.