Image | Michigan State Capitol Commission
NOTE: Two years ago we began "The 102nd", an occasional series to document interesting or little-known observations about the 2023-24 Michigan Legislature, the state's 102nd. We're carrying on the tradition with the first post of "The 103rd."
Today is the beginning of the 103rd Michigan Legislative Session. We welcome the new House members and welcome back returning Representatives and Senators. (All House seats were up for election in 2024. None of the Senate seats were, but all will be up in the 2026 election). We look forward to working with all legislators, and advocating for animals in the most fact-based and compelling way possible, and in a way that resonates with each one’s concerns, background, and priorities.
New leadership in the House reflects Republican control of that chamber and Republicans will be a majority on all Committees. Rep. Matt Hall is the speaker; Rachelle Smit is Speaker Pro Tempore Elect; Bryan Posthumus is Majority Floor Leader Elect.
No more Trifecta: In the 102nd, both chambers and the governor’s office were controlled by Democrats. Which leads to the point of this post: certainly a new session is a fresh start with new and returning legislators looking forward to the session. There’s lots of talk about bi-partisanship and working across the aisle, even if it reflects the reality of split government rather than a fullblown commitment to principle.
But unexpected things happen. The promise of animal-friendly legislation enabled by the trifecta in the 102nd session largely did not materialize. A major factor was the dysfunctional “lame duck” session, especially in the House, where the Republican members walked out Dec. 13, and Democrats with a slim majority could not muster a quorum and finally adjourned a week later leaving many bills to die without a vote. Although the Senate pulled a valiant all-nighter and passed many House bills, the lost opportunity was palpable.
Unexpected things are bound to happen in the 103rd as well. Let’s be optimistic that some of them will work in the animals’ favor.
Coinciding with the 102nd session was restoration of the Capitol Building dome and rotunda. The project, begun in 2013, was completed and the area re-opened to the public last summer. The image chosen for “The 103rd” series comes from that project, showing scaffolding needed to do the painstaking detail work. It’s a striking image and can be an allegory to represent the unfinished work of the legislature, the need for strong support, and the precision and attention to detail that goes into workable legislation and sound public policy. We’re ready to chronicle where the 103rd takes us.