Betsy Coffia

Environment / Energy

Michigan’s twelve federally recognized tribes and our indigenous communities have lived on this land for millennia. They are the original guardians of our great lakes, our air, our land, and our inland waterways. They have consistently protected the natural environment when our state and federal governments have too often failed to uphold this sacred obligation. I am working with the tribes to advance policy that would require the State of Michigan to seek consent, not perfunctory consultation, from the tribes for any environmentally impactful development. Learn more

I am a co-sponsor on a package of bills that would strengthen safeguards of our environment from pollution, and where it occurs, would impose strong consequences for the responsible actors and require the polluters to pay to clean up their own mess. Learn more

At minimum, I support a multi-year moratorium on hyperscale data center construction in Michigan so we can adequately assess the potential long-term environmental and health impacts on our communities. In September 2024, I organized my colleagues to block a vote on the data center tax break bill delivered to us twenty minutes before session began. I also voted no when it resurfaced during Lame Duck session after the November 2024 election. I strongly support a repeal of the disastrous Data Center Tax Break bills that were rammed through the legislature in 2024. We need to halt the rampant spread of these environmentally destructive facilities and elect leaders who aren’t content to pave the way for AI tech companies at the expense of Michigan communities. Learn more

Government Reform

The reality is, Michigan’s state government needs drastic change to better serve its constituents and that can't happen without bold reforms. The Mop Up Michigan ballot initiative is a crucial piece of the puzzle, and is heavily projected to pass in November. This is great news, and yet, the corporate money players are already lining up to try to tie it up in court. That’s why we need to push the newly seated legislature and Governor to make it a priority within the first 100 days to also pass a sweeping slate of anti corruption reforms that go even further than MMOP. Any new majority needs to be laser focused on the growing needs of Michiganders and that happens when we level the playing field and clear corrosive big money interests out of the room. I am sponsoring several concurrent bills to ensure corporate power in our government is erased in totality. The End Run Citizens United (House bills) 6216-18 allow states to redefine corporations to prevent them from giving to politicians essentially nullifying citizens united. Learn more

Healthcare

Healthcare for all is particularly important to me as a cancer survivor because I understand how critical access to healthcare can mean the difference between life and death. Healthcare is a human right not a luxury good like a yacht or a sports car. We need to join every other developed nation in providing healthcare and ensuring health care is enshrined as a human right. Learn more

When I was a child Michigan’s mental healthcare system was one of the best in the country. Since then, it has developed massive gaps in care through gutting, underfunding and the insurance industry blocking desperately needed reforms. My vulnerable constituents can’t wait any longer. We need to rebuild Michigan’s mental healthcare system from the ground up. Betsy is working in collaboration with mental health professionals in legislature to introduce a package of bills to address this issue next term. Learn more

Legislation

Tech billionaires have been using their AI models to steal our intellectual property for too long. AI needs to be heavily regulated at the state and federal levels, and if tech companies are going to benefit from our intellectual property, we should as well. I’ve proposed a royalty system, similar to Alaksa’s agreement with the oil and gas industry, so royalties will be paid to all Michiganders for use of our intellectual property. Betsy's bill on AI revenue is currently being drafted and is expected to be introduced next term. Learn more

My colleagues and I are also formally pushing Governor Whitmer and MDOT to rescind the voluntary memorandum of understanding they signed with ICE in early 2026 which allows the agency to survey all Michigan highways. If anyone is unclear why this is important, I suggest reading George Orwell’s 1984. Betsy's bill on banning the surveillance of private citizens is currently being drafted and is expected to be introduced next term. Learn more

Taxes / Budget

I am strongly in support of the City of Traverse City’s proposal for a tourism tax and changing state law to expand the allowed uses of revenues collected by hotel bed taxes. Currently this tax revenue is only available for use in tourism promotion. This funding should be made available to our communities for affordable housing and local infrastructure needs. I also support a bed tax on short-term rentals with the tax revenue returned to local communities. Betsy and her team are in contact with local communities to determine the most useful way to implement this and will introduce a bill based on this information. Learn more