MLA Advocacy News

A New Legislative Cycle Begins…A New MLA Bill Tracker

Check out MLA's Bill Tracker to view a full list of legislation that the Advocacy and Legislative Committee is watching.

As the 102nd Legislative Cycle begins, we are excited to begin anew and have introduced a new MLA Bill Tracker on our website. Each year, the MLA membership has the opportunity to choose priority issues that directly affect Michigan libraries. MLA then works with the Michigan Legislature to move these issues through the legislative process. The MLA Bill Tracker is updated monthly by the MLA Advocacy and Legislative Committee to inform our members of the Senate and House bills MLA is watching and addressing, our position if any, and actions that we are taking to support or oppose the legislation.

MDHHS Library OTC COVID-19 Tests

Thanks to library partners, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Over the Counter COVID-19 Testkit Program continues to be a success. With over 250 libraries participating since the program's inception, this map shows participating libraries across the state as of November 2022. MDHHS has shared that they continue to receive positive feedback from these libraries and are very grateful for their partnership.

Michigan’s New Legislature

At our December Advocacy Hour, MLA Lobbyist Bob DeVries, GCSI shared an update on how the outcome of the November 2022 Midterms and Michigan’s new Democratic Trifecta will influence our work in the next two years.

Michigan’s New Democratic Trifecta

For the first time in 40 years, the Democratic party won both legislative chambers and remained firmly seated for another four years in the executive branch with margins of more than 100,000 votes in the gubernatorial, Attorney General, and Secretary of State races.