Every two years, SEMCOG convenes a bipartisan, intra-regional Legislative Policy Platform Task Force to develop a Policy Platform for the upcoming legislative session. The platform recommends reforms and enhancements to a broad range of federal and state policies aimed at furthering Southeast Michigan’s health and economic prosperity. Like all of SEMCOG’s work, the platform is grounded in sound data and reflects the consensus of Southeast Michigan’s local leaders to ensure it best addresses the diverse needs of the region’s 4.8 million residents.
2025-2026 LEGISLATIVE POLICY PLATFORM ADVOCACY RESOURCES
Questions?
SEMCOG members and partners who are interested in knowing more about the region’s federal and state legislative advocacy efforts, or who would like to coordinate on legislative priorities, should contact the Government Affairs Department.
Sheryl Theriot – Executive Affairs Director
Michael Spence – Government Affairs Manager
Nikki Hartley – Government Affairs Specialist
Federal and State Legislative Updates
Federal and State Legislative Updates
Prior to each meeting of the General Assembly and Executive Committee, SEMCOG’s lobbyists in Washington and Lansing provide written updates on legislative and regulatory activity important to communities in Southeast Michigan. Below are links to the most recent versions of these legislative updates.
Most recent Federal Legislative Update
Most recent State Legislative Update
State Legislative Tracking Dockets
State Legislative Tracking Dockets
SEMCOG tracks all introduced state legislation impacting policy priorities in the current Legislative Policy Platform. These priority areas are described below along with links to the most recent legislative dockets for those topics.
Infrastructure
Southeast Michigan’s prosperity depends on modern and well-maintained infrastructure. Our means of transportation are evolving, and our dependency on communications technology is expanding exponentially. There is a critical need to deliver safe and affordable water to residents while minimizing threats to homes and businesses caused by extreme weather events and flooding.
Funding and coordinated management of these vital infrastructure assets happen at the regional level, and locally managed infrastructure provides the backbone for shared prosperity and economic development.
SEMCOG Infrastructure Legislative Docket
Communities
Local governments and educational institutions in Southeast Michigan need strong state and federal partners to ensure a well-trained public sector workforce, provide access to adequate and flexible funding, and respect the priorities of locally elected officials. Deferred local infrastructure investment and reduced services hinder our capacity to build stronger communities.
SEMCOG Communities Legislative Docket
Economy and Workforce
Where we work and how we learn – along with the challenges of an aging workforce and barriers to employment – are essential considerations for Southeast Michigan’s evolving economy. We know that future-proofing students by preparing them for a rapidly changing economy through education, training, and experiential learning will ensure success in the workplace. Meanwhile, economic development needs to include a focus on placemaking and community investment that benefits residents, workers, and businesses of all sizes.
SEMCOG Economy and Workforce Legislative Docket
Natural Assets
SEMCOG strives for a brighter future by growing our resilience, equity, and economy with nature (GREEN). Preserving and improving our natural assets – the priceless features of Southeast Michigan that have largely defined our past and present – is critical. Bountiful fresh water is the foundation of much of our economy and the cornerstone of a wide range of recreational activities. Clean air is essential to the health and welfare of our residents. Guarding homes, businesses, and infrastructure against extreme weather and flooding is imperative. Managing state and interstate waste streams is critical to the health and safety of the region.
Community Project Requests
Fiscal Year 2026 Community Project Requests
SEMCOG was pleased to support more than 85 Community Project Funding requests with technical expertise and letters of support. If funded, these projects would be included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget, which must be finalized by September 30, 2025. SEMCOG will provide updates on this process as they become available.
Fiscal Year 2025 Community Project Requests
SEMCOG was pleased to support more than 80 Community Project Funding requests with technical expertise and letters of support. Unfortunately, no community projects for FY 2025 were awarded as the completion of a FY 2025 budget did not occur.
Fiscal Year 2024 Awarded Community Projects in Southeast Michigan
The 2024 federal appropriations bills directly invested over $149 million in Southeast Michigan communities. This funding was disbursed between more than 120 projects that addressed critical needs across the region, including road and nonmotorized infrastructure upgrades, water and sewer improvements, health and education enhancements, and much more.
View FY 2024 Awarded Community Projects in Southeast Michigan
Contact: Mike Spence, SEMCOG Government Affairs Administrator, for more information.
Issue One-Pagers
Below are SEMCOG’s current advocacy one-pagers. We encourage our members to share these with their community’s representatives.
Supporting a Revenue Sharing Trust Fund
Legislative Policy Platform Task Force
Chair: Frank Viviano, Supervisor, Macomb Township
Vice Chair: Robert McCraight, Mayor, City of Romulus
The SEMCOG Legislative Policy Platform Task Force convened in 2024 to develop a Policy Platform for the 2025-2026 state and federal legislative session. The bipartisan task force was led by Chair Frank Viviano, Supervisor, Macomb Township, and Vice-Chair Robert McCraight, Mayor, City of Romulus. The task force met three times between July and November 2024, recommending the new legislative platform for adoption by SEMCOG’s Executive Committee at their December 6, 2024, meeting.
Legislative Policy Platform Task Force Meeting Agendas and Summaries
