Photowire

Photo caption: State Sen. Kevin Daley, R-Lum and Jillene Verdier listen as Tammy Smith (left) testifies before the Senate Committee on Health Policy and Human Services in support of Daley's legislation, Senate Bills 155 and 156 Thursday afternoon. Martin and Verdier are both members of the Michigan Chapter of T1 International, a nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to promoting accessibility to insulin for people with diabetes.

State Sen. Kevin Daley, R-Lum, is joined by Mike Pergande of American Legion Post 18 in Bay City (right) and Jim Smith of American Legion Post 457 in North Branch, who traveled to Lansing to testify in support of two bills sponsored by Daley that would provide relief to certain community organizations that suffered as a result of the COVID-19 closures.

State Sen. Ken Horn, R-Frankenmuth, tours the Bavarian Inn Lodge with Vice President Martha Zehnder Kaczynski as she talks about sacrifices they have had to make and the creative ways they have managed to safely serve customers and provide peace of mind for their employees.

State Sen. Ken Horn, R-Frankenmuth, discusses the changes made during the pandemic with Bill Parlberg, president and COO of the world-famous Zehnder's of Frankenmuth. Like many restaurant presidents, Bill and his team are proud of the measures they have put in place that have allowed them to maintain a safe atmosphere, and he said he looks forward to seeing people walk back through the door.

State Sen. Ken Horn, R-Frankenmuth, speaks with Jamie Furbush, president and CEO of the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce, about what the pandemic and shutdowns have meant for the community of Frankenmuth and businesses across the state.

State Sen. Ken Horn, R-Frankenmuth, walks the showroom floor of Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland and discusses with President and CEO Wayne Bronner the measures the world's largest Christmas store has taken to keep both their customers and employees safe.

State Sen. Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, arrives at his desk with his daughter Catherine ready for the opening day of the 2021-2022 legislative term.

Sen. Jon Bumstead, R-Newaygo, joins Muskegon Area Intermediate School District Superintendent John Severson before the Senate Committee on Appropriations as Severson testifies in support of Bumstead's legislation, Senate Bill 1052.

Assistant Senate Majority Leader Wayne Schmidt, R-Traverse City, discusses the budget with Senate Appropriations Chairman Jim Stamas, R-Midland, on the Senate floor as negotiations were being finalized Wednesday afternoon.

Assistant Senate Majority Leader Wayne Schmidt, R-Traverse City, discusses the budget with Senate Appropriations Chairman Jim Stamas, R-Midland, and Senate Majority Floor Leader Peter MacGregor, R-Rockford, on the Senate floor as negotiations were being finalized Wednesday afternoon.

Traverse City resident Owen Schneider enjoys riding his bike on the trails at Grand Traverse Commons. The photo was taken by his father Gabe - who says the two of them often enjoy time together at Grand Traverse Commons and they look forward to the future of the property.

State Sen. Kevin Daley, R-Lum, joins the mother of Sgt. 1st Class Michael Cathcart, Jeanne Cathcart, and Army veteran Joe Johnson on Sunday as the sign naming a portion of State Highway M-15 in Bay County after Sgt. Cathcart was unveiled.

Sen. Kevin Daley, R-Lum, joined state Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton Township, before the House Committee on Elections and Ethics Wednesday afternoon to testify in support of his legislation and identical House bills that would help secure the integrity of Michigan elections.

Sen. Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, delivers a speech on the Senate floor on Wednesday supporting legislation to prohibit the transfer of people who have COVID-19 into the state's long-term care facilities.

Sen. Kevin Daley, R-Lum, on Tuesday joined Barry Cargill, president and CEO of the Michigan HomeCare and Hospice Association, in testifying before the Senate Health Policy and Human Services Committee on legislation Daley sponsored to help disabled individuals get the products and services they need.

Sen. Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, delivers a speech on the Senate floor Thursday morning condemning the governor's decision to place COVID- 19-postive residents with uninfected residents in nursing homes.

Sen. Jon Bumstead, R-Newaygo, tours flood damage in Muskegon County with Susie Hughes, chair of the Muskegon County Board of Commissioners as local officials work to gather a complete assessment of the damage.

State Sen Rick Outman, R-Six Lakes, speaks in support his resolution, Senate Resolution 112, on the Senate floor Tuesday morning.

Sens. Wayne Schmidt, R-Traverse City, and Curt VanderWall, R- Ludington, are joined by Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist for a photo on the Senate floor with Michigan Cherry Queen Sierra Moore during her visit to Lansing on Wednesday.

Sens. Wayne Schmidt, R-Traverse City, and Curt VanderWall, R- Ludington, are joined by Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist for a photo on the Senate floor with Michigan Cherry Queen Sierra Moore during her visit to Lansing on Wednesday.

State Sen. Ken Horn, R-Frankenmuth, listens from the rostrum as Father Patrick Jankowiak delivers the invocation before Senate session.

State Sen. Kevin Daley stands with Lisa Marshke, her granddaughter, Hailey and Lori Thueme on the Senate floor after Daley's legislation that would create a special recognition license plate honoring Blue Star Families received final approval from the Legislature. Marshke and Thueme are members of Blue Star Mothers of America and were instrumental in the passage of this legislation.

State Sen. Kevin Daley, R-Lum, stands at his desk on the Senate floor with the Rev. Chad Minkler and his wife, Amanda, after Minkler delivered Thursday's invocation.

State Sen. Jon Bumstead, R-Newaygo, stands at his desk on the Senate floor with the Rev. Doug Ogden after Ogden delivered Tuesday's invocation.

Sen. Jon Bumstead, R-Newaygo, testifies in support of Senate Bills 712 and 713, which would improve the ability of local governments to conduct important business while also giving them guidelines for when local officials do not meet their duty requirements. Bumstead points to an ongoing issue in his district in the village of Hesperia as his reasoning for introducing the legislation.

Sen. Jon Bumstead, R-Newaygo, presents a legislative tribute to the 2019 state champion girl's cross-country team from Hart and Coach Terry Tatro after honoring the team's accomplishment during Senate session. Joining the celebration is Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist.

Sen. Jon Bumstead, R-Newaygo, presents a legislative tribute to the 2019 state champion boy's cross-country team from Fremont after honoring the team during Senate session. Joining the celebration is Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist.

State Sen. Rick Outman, R-Six Lakes, welcomed his son Patrick and Lisa Neitzel Parsons to the state Capitol for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's 2020 State of the State address on Wednesday. Parsons teaches 11th grade chemistry at Alma High School.

State Sen. Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, welcomed Michael and Christine VanDenBerg to Lansing Wednesday evening as his guests for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's 2020 State of the State address. Michael VanDenBerg serves as Gun Plain Charter Township supervisor and Christine VanDenBerg serves as a Plainwell Community Schools board member.

State Sen. Ken Horn, R-Frankenmuth, welcomed individuals from Nexteer Automotive as his guests for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's 2020 State of the State address on Wednesday. Pictured from left to right: Mike Lax, chief tax officer, Jerry Rush, director of global government affairs, State Sen. Ken Horn, R-Frankenmuth, Lynn Pavlawk, director of global government relations, corporate social responsibility and sustainability and Dennis Hoeg, vice president and North American division president.