New state laws for 2023 show bipartisanship in Lansing
Personal finance classes for high schoolers and expanded consumer protection highlight new laws taking effect this year.
This week in Lansing, Democrats take control of the state House and Senate in Lansing for the first time in nearly 40 years. But even before they get to work with Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan will start to see the fruits of the efforts Whitmer was able to accomplish with Republicans in charge of the Legislature last year. These include laws increasing consumer protections for online purchases, allowing some privately owned facilities to be used as polling places and funding for the QLine in Detroit.
“Many of the new laws that are taking effect this year were sponsored by Republicans. And so it indicates that Republicans and Democrats were able to work across the aisle to get something done.” — Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press
Listen: How new laws will impact Michiganders in 2023.
Guest
Dave Boucher is a government and politics reporter with the Detroit Free Press. He recently wrote the article, “New Michigan laws in 2023: Service dogs, school safety and crime victim compensation.”
He says while Republicans and Democrats weren’t able to make systemic changes last session, the laws that did pass show they were able to work together in a bipartisan manner.
“Many of the new laws that are taking effect this year were sponsored by Republicans,” says Boucher. “And so it indicates that Republicans and Democrats were able to work across the aisle to get something done.”
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