Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Democratic and Republican leaders are hopeful they will reach a deal on a supplemental budget. But it looks like that won’t happen until after Thanksgiving. The House and Senate are on break. Though they have one tentative session day scheduled next week.

Republicans in the Legislature have proposed what they say is a first step toward restoring widely unpopular budget cuts. Many of the cuts were enacted by a board controlled by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Democratic state lawmakers say all people need to be able to make independent decisions about their reproductive health. House Democrats announced their plan for a so-called Michigan Reproductive Health Act Tuesday.

Some lawmakers want to prevent the Department of Health and Human Services from issuing rules restricting access and use of vaping products. Lawmakers debated the bill in front of a House committee Tuesday.

Licensed mental health counselors in the state will be allowed to continue diagnosing and treating patients under a bill adopted Thursday by the state Senate. The bill is now in its way to Governor Gretchen Whitmer for her to sign or veto.

The state wants to make it easier for people to apply for public assistance.

A Michigan Court of Claims judge says the state ban on flavored vaping products must be lifted. That’s while underlying litigation opposing the ban plays out in court.

Starting Wednesday, Michigan vape shops will have to stop selling flavored nicotine products. The final rules of the ban were announced two weeks ago. They were put in place by Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s administration. The state says that young people vaping has become a public health crisis.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been presented a budget by the state Legislature, but one area where Whitmer might have an issue with the budget is the state’s new redistricting commission.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer says the budgets on their way to her desk are “a mess.”

Discussions to expand gambling options in the state to include sports betting and online gaming have been put on hold until Michigan has a budget.