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By Adam Stacey
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s eighth and final State of the State address in February endorsed a bipartisan package of bills that the Mackinac Center believes will improve life for many state residents.
The governor called for bipartisanship in efforts to make housing more affordable, reduce the cost of health care, and improve childhood literacy.
Some of the legislation Whitmer endorsed would streamline zoning, reduce red tape, and make it easier to build all types of homes, bringing more housing to the market.
Whitmer’s speech reflected the current split in state government between Republicans, who control the House, and Democrats, who control the Senate and executive branch.
Whitmer thanked Speaker of the House Matt Hall for his efforts to enact several key pieces of legislation last year. These bills provided dedicated road funding and repealed the tax on overtime and Social Security benefits. Other new laws revised the minimum wage for tipped workers and deferred a paid sick leave requirement that had threatened the continued viability of many small businesses and restaurants.
The 2026 legislative calendar will be very compressed, and there is little appetite in either the House or the Senate to reenact last year’s prolonged budget negotiation. The budgetary deadlock delayed action on a variety of issues.
Lawmakers will be reluctant to spend much time in Lansing this fall with the election looming on Nov. 3. Expect a flurry of activity in June, followed by another round during the lame duck session in late November, which will continue through December.
The Mackinac Center looks forward to working with the governor and members of the 103rd Legislature. Together, we can improve children’s reading ability and make Michigan a more affordable place to live by applying free-market solutions to the many public policy challenges facing our state.
