In her State of the State address on Jan. 24, Governor Gretchen Whitmer highlighted her plans to lower costs, expand educational opportunities and accelerate economic development. Her plans included, among other things, free community college for the first two years for all Michigan high school graduates, access to free pre-Kindergarten for every 4-year-old, and investing $1.4 billion to build or rehabilitate 10,000 affordable homes.

The Governor's priorities and budget targets that were agreed to at the January Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference will be used to create the 2025 state budget proposal. Whitmer will present her executive proposal for spending General Fund and School Aid Fund dollars to the House and Senate appropriations committees on Feb. 7.

The state's top economists report Michigan's economy is strong and stable with inflation slowly normalizing, unemployment expected to remain steady, and labor force demands leveling off.

Since 13 metro Detroit legislative districts must be redrawn due to concerns over improper use of racial data, Michigan Citizens Independent Redistricting Commission has until Feb. 2 to submit a final draft of the redrawing of seven House Districts. The public will have until Feb. 23 to submit feedback on the plan. Work to redraw the six Senate districts will begin April 12.

Five elections are scheduled in 2024 in Michigan from the Presidential Primary Feb. 27 through the General Election Nov. 5.

Please click on the January 2024 Karoub Report below for complete details on these issues.