It has been a great honor and a humbling experience to serve the people of our communities in Michigan’s 100th Legislature. Now that my first year serving as your representative has come to an end, I’m proud to say 2019 was exciting and productive.

Last year, I held multiple opportunities each month for people to meet with me and share their views. I believe accessibility and accountability are key components of serving in the legislature, and I will always make it a point to listen. I look forward to continuing these meetings in 2020.

I truly believe the reforms we’ve worked on this past year in the Michigan House are helping move us in the right direction. Some of the year’s highlights include:

Guaranteeing relief from high car insurance rates

I worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass historic reforms to our auto insurance system. The changes will take effect in July 2020 and include a guaranteed rate reduction on your auto insurance bill. Additional changes include allowing for choice in coverage – which could help you save even more, increased transparency within the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA), crackdowns on fraud, and the elimination of non-driving factors from insurance calculations.

The first sign our reforms are paying off came when the MCCA recently announced the fee it assesses on each vehicle will drop 55 percent starting in July. The lower fee is just the first of many reductions that drivers can expect to take effect as these reforms progress. The new law will continue to lower costs for years to come, making it more affordable to drive in our state.

Increasing government transparency

I am spearheading a plan to require increased transparency in government contracts. House Bill 4831 would require any state department with procurement authority to receive sign-off from the Department of Technology, Management and Budget before exercising any contract options. This will help ensure taxpayers get the biggest bang for their buck and prevent departments from unilaterally spending tax dollars on unnecessary programs.

Making responsible criminal justice reforms

I was proud to help approve civil asset forfeiture reforms, signed into law in May, that ensure law enforcement agencies can no longer keep personal property from citizens who aren’t charged with a crime. The new law protects Michigan residents while still allowing law enforcement to crack down on convicted criminals.

I voted for the “Raise the Age” package, signed into law in October, which ended the practice of automatically trying all 17-year-olds as adults in court. Prosecutors and judges will continue to have discretion, allowing them to try minors who commit violent crimes in the adult system when appropriate.

Protecting your paycheck

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I worked with my colleagues on a responsible final budget that funds the priorities of Michigan families without raising taxes.

The governor vetoed several budget items – including additional funding for roads and bridges – but we fought for a solution and ultimately approved a supplemental plan. The final budget continues funding our roads at the highest levels in history, our schools at the highest levels in history, and maintains funding for critical services our local governments and local families rely on every day.

We’re not far off from starting the next budget cycle, so I am pleased to report that we are moving in a positive direction, and I am optimistic that all parties will be on the same page going forward.

Honoring first responders

Last spring, I sponsored a resolution to recognize April 14-20, 2019 as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Michigan. Telecommunicators are often the first point of contact in an emergency, and their professionalism and accuracy are critical in helping police officers, firefighters and paramedics safely and effectively do their jobs. Their hard work saves lives, and they deserve our appreciation and respect.

A plan I sponsored to name a portion of I-94 as the “Trooper Manuel H. Fields Memorial Highway” was recently signed into law. Trooper Fields was conducting a traffic stop on a westbound stretch of I-94 Aug. 27, 1994, when a vehicle crossed the fog line and fatally struck him. Naming the roadway in his honor will help ensure the sacrifice he made while serving our community is never forgotten.

I’m also working on legislation to name another portion of I-94 in honor of Deputy Keeper George Haight. On March 27, 1893, Deputy Keeper Haight was the first employee to be killed in the line of duty for the Michigan Department of Corrections after an inmate poisoned his food with a mixture of opium and cyanide at the Michigan State Prison in Jackson during an elaborate escape attempt.

The opportunity to serve people in our community is not something I take lightly. I am confident that with hard work, we will continue to see positive results in our community and across Michigan – and I am dedicated to continuing those efforts. As always, please feel free to reach out to my office with any questions, ideas or concerns at (517) 373-1775 or [email protected].

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State Rep. Sarah Lightner is serving her first term in the Michigan House representing residents in portions of Jackson, Lenawee and Eaton counties.