Michigan would stop issuing most new marijuana business licenses under sweeping legislation backed by a leading industry group. New dispensaries could not open in communities that already have more than one shop per 10,000 residents.
Simon D. Schuster
Simon D. Schuster is a Capitol Reporter for Bridge Michigan. Simon joined Bridge Michigan in 2024 after working as MLive's senior political reporter and later covering politics on their investigative team. He spent three years tracking the influence of political money in Michigan as executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, a nonpartisan nonprofit. A Michigan native, Simon received a bachelor's and a master of public policy from Michigan State University, where he was a policy fellow at the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. Outside of work you'll find him in Detroit, backpacking northern Michigan or visiting his fiancée in Scandinavia. He lives in Lansing.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan’s bipartisan budget deal aims to ‘protect’ Medicaid. Here’s how
Michigan is seeking to avoid steep losses in federal funding for Medicaid by changing an insurance provider tax. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says a new state budget will ‘protect access to health care for millions.’
Posted inMichigan Government
Road funding 101: What to know about Michigan’s $2B deal
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday celebrated the state’s new bipartisan road funding deal, which is historic in scope but still short of earlier targets. See what roads will get fixed, and which taxes will go up, as a result.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan taxes on tips, overtime, Social Security to end for three years
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law an exemption on income taxes for tips, overtime and social security income this week. The tax cut will be in place from 2026 through 2028.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Marijuana group sues to block new tax central to road funding deal
An industry group wants to block implementation of a 24% wholesale tax that is central to lawmaker’s $2 billion road funding plan.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan budget takes IT from Jocelyn Benson after transparency portal flop
Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson will lose oversight of IT systems under a budget provision championed by House Republicans. ‘Benson has failed miserably with these public websites,’ said one lawmaker.
Posted inMichigan Government
Gretchen Whitmer signs $81B Michigan budget, roads deal. What to know
Michigan’s new budget has more money for roads, more taxes on pot and some new spending cuts. What to know about the $81B spending law.
Posted inMichigan Government
JD Vance in Michigan: Trump will send National Guard to Detroit if Whitmer asks
Vice President JD Vance offered to send National Guard troops to Detroit in a speech touting the Trump administration’s new tax-and-spending law. Bridge checked key facts from speeches by Vance and others.
Posted inMichigan Government
Gretchen Whitmer warns Michigan: ‘Undeniable signs of an ailing economy’
Tariffs are hurting Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer argued Tuesday, urging lawmakers to ‘protect Michiganders from further disruption’ by avoiding a government shutdown.
Posted inMichigan Government
‘I am Charlie Kirk’: Michigan Republicans rally for slain activist
Charlie Kirk supporters rallied Monday at the Michigan Capitol, honoring the assassinated activist and declaring, ‘We are all Charlie Kirk now.’