Federal and State Legislative Advocacy

Legislative Update E-Newsletter
At the beginning of each month, SEMCOG sends out a Legislative Update e-newsletter covering federal and state policies and regulations. Topics include budget updates, helpful advocacy resources, proposed legislation, SEMCOG’s advocacy work, and more!

Check out SEMCOG’s most recent Legislative update mailings:
July
June
May

Log in and subscribe under ‘Mailing Lists’ to get these updates mailed directly to your inbox.

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
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. 

SEMCOG Natural Assets Legislative Docket

Fiscal Year 2027 Community Project Funding Requests

At this time, all application portals for Congressionally Directed Spending/Community Project Funding have closed. SEMCOG was thrilled to bolster our members’ and partner organizations’ applications with dozens of support letters. Projects submitted and approved for the current fiscal year are now pending the passage of a Fiscal Year 2027 budget.

Members and partner organizations can still submit a letter of support request for other non-Congressionally Directed Spending funding request.
Request a letter of support for your project.

Fiscal Year 2026 Community Project Funding Requests

The Fiscal Year 2026 federal appropriations bills were passed on February 3, 2026, and included significant funding for Southeast Michigan communities. These investments totaled more than $152 million in new funding to 108 projects to address critical needs in the region. SEMCOG was pleased to support more than 85 Community Project Funding requests with technical expertise and letters of support. 

View the list of awarded community projects in Southeast Michigan.

Contact: Mike Spence, SEMCOG Government Affairs Administrator, for more information. 

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

Drinking Water Investments in Southeast Michigan

Infrastructure Impacts of Zoning Preemption

Planning Impacts of Zoning Preemption

How Local Governments are Addressing Affordable Housing

The SEMCOG Legislative Policy Platform Task Force is convening in 2026 to develop a Policy Platform for the 2027-2028 state and federal legislative session. The bipartisan task force is led by Chair Robert McCraight, Mayor, City of Romulus; and Vice-Chair Scott Benson, Councilmember, District 3, City of Detroit. The task force will meet three times between July and November 2026, recommending the new legislative platform for adoption by SEMCOG’s Executive Committee at their December 4, 2026, meeting. 

Legislative Policy Platform Task Force Meeting #1 Agenda
Legislative Policy Platform Task Force Meeting #1 Summary