Latest news with #Wortz
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Michigan lawmakers look to expand classes homeschoolers can take at public schools
Rep. Jennifer Wortz (R-Quincy) introduces House Bill 4330, which would allow homeschool students to take any course at public schools. Wortz, seated is flanked by Reps. Gina Johnsen (R-Portland) and William Bruck (R-Erie), two of the bill's cosponsors. | Photo from Michigan House Republicans Republican lawmakers in Michigan's state House are looking to expand the classes home-school students can take at public schools by repealing a state law against using state school aid to fund core educational classes. Michigan's state constitution states that no public funds can be appropriated to fund non-public schools, but state law permits non-public or homeschooled students to enroll in 'non-essential' courses at public school, excluding science, social studies, mathematics and English language arts. Rep. Jennifer Wortz (R-Quincy), joined by several Republican co-sponsors, has introduced House Bill 4330, that would eliminate restrictions on the kinds of classes public schools can receive state school aid for to provide classes to non-public school students. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Having done 13 years of homeschooling with her kids, including enrolling her kids into limited programming at public school once they reached high school, Wortz said there is a lot of benefit for homeschool parents to have the autonomy to tailor educational experiences to suit their children and family. 'This bill kind of allows for that freedom. If it's a homeschool family that still just wants to completely homeschool, they can continue to do that, but if it's a family who maybe they want their kid to have a math or science class, they can do that and then still continue to homeschool with the other options at home, and it just kind of enhances their opportunities,' Wortz said. In her own experience, living in a rural area where many homeschool families elect to send their kids to public school for high school, Wortz said the bill would allow families that already contribute to state taxes to better benefit from what those tax dollars are used for. As one of the handful of states that doesn't require families to register minor children for homeschool, Michigan doesn't have a count of how many homeschool students exist in the state, so an estimation on necessary increases to the school aid budget is something Wortz said she's looking into. Following a stark increase in homeschooling nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic and news stories in recent years outlining accounts of abuse behind closed doors when children didn't attend public schools, Michigan State Superintendent Michael Rice asked the state Legislature last year to create a mandatory state registry for students outside of public school in the name of safety. 'The issue of 'missing children' is a national problem with potential negative consequences for too many children,' Rice wrote to the Legislature. 'Parents should be able to choose the best educational system for their children. However, there is a history in Michigan and across the nation of some children not receiving any education at all, in particularly egregious cases in abusive or neglected environments.' Currently, House Republicans' budget plans include diverting around $700 million annually in gas sales tax revenue that goes into the School Aid Fund, while backfilling the money for schools using the state's General Fund. Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.) said before this year's legislative session that funding for schools would be guaranteed as the gas tax revenue under the GOP plan would be used to repair the state's crumbling roads and infrastructure. But just as some families may start increasing their usage of public school programming, some might leave the full-time structure, Wortz said. With the option to attend math and science classes at a public school, Wortz argued that she would not have necessarily enrolled her own children in public school in high school. 'I didn't want to teach geometry, I didn't want to teach Algebra II or chemistry,' Wortz said.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State officials introduce legislation to ease repeal of Sunday liquor ban in Hillsdale
HILLSDALE COUNTY — For decades, bar-goers have been restricted from purchasing liquor and liquor-based mixed drinks from bars and restaurants in Hillsdale County on Sundays. Business owners have made concerted efforts in recent years to collect signatures and bring the issue to the ballot to repeal the county's "blue law," in part because Hillsdale County entities were losing sales to surrounding counties. Now, State Rep. Jennifer Wortz — working in tandem with State Senator Joseph Bellino — are trying to streamline the repeal process under the Michigan Liquor Control Code of 1998. 'Bars and restaurants in Hillsdale County have lost business to Indiana and neighboring communities because of county restrictions,' said Wortz, R-Quincy. 'People want to vote so they can weigh-in on changing the county rules and allowing drink sales on Sundays. "However, a convoluted state law restricts local decision-making. By cleaning up the repeal process, our plan will increase local control and allow voters to give local businesses and customers more freedom.' Wortz and Bellino have introduced identical bills in the House of Representatives and Senate, which would reduce the number of signatures needed for repeal to 5% of the total number of voters who participated in the most recent secretary of state election (down from 8%) and allow county boards to vote to place a repeal on the ballot directly. The proposed legislation — House Bill 4398 and Senate Bill 264 — will also allow for clearer ballot proposal language. Current state law requires the ballot question to ask whether a county should prohibit liquor sales — meaning a "yes" vote would keep the ban in place. The newly introduced bills would allow ballot language to ask if the county should permit liquor sales instead. Subscribe Now: For all the latest local developments, breaking news and high school sports content. 'It's encouraging that our legislators are looking into this issue,' said Hillsdale Economic Development Director Sam Fry. 'We've had a number of businesses express interest in this, because it affects their bottom line.' Hillsdale County's 'blue law' bans the sale of spirits and mixed spirit drinks for on-premises consumption from 7 a.m. Sunday to 2 a.m. Monday, and is the only remaining ban on Sunday alcohol sales in the state of Michigan. 'The people of Hillsdale County should get to decide whether to get rid of the old ban on Sunday spirit sales,' said Bellino, R-Monroe. 'Unfortunately, the state of Michigan makes it difficult even to allow county voters to make their voices heard. Our common-sense plan will remove unnecessary legal barriers — so residents can choose to remove the weekly 'closed for business' sign on the county borders.' — Contact Reporter Corey Murray at cmurray@ or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @cmurrayHDN. This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Wortz, Bellino introduce bills to ease repeal of liquor ban in Hillsdale
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wortz proposes free doe hunting licenses in effort to tackle Michigan's excessive deer population
Rep. Jennifer Wortz (R-Quincy) submits House Bill 4206 for introduction at the Michigan State Capitol on Thursday, March 6, 2025. HB 4206, formally introduced the following Tuesday, would offer two free doe tags to every Michigan hunter. | Photo Courtesy of Michigan House Republicans In hopes of encouraging hunters to pursue more does, State Rep. Jennifer Wortz (R-Quincy) has offered a proposal that would provide every person who purchases a hunting license two free antlerless deer licenses. Over the past 40 years deer populations in southern Michigan have exploded, damaging crops and leading to an increase in car accidents, with more than 58,000 deer-vehicle crashes in 2023. In response the Department of Natural Resources has urged hunters to shoot does in order to limit breeding. The DNR also offered an extended late antlerless deer season from Jan. 2-12, discounting antlerless deer licenses — which allow hunters to kill one doe —from $20 to $5 for the season and allowing hunters to use their unused tags. Hunters can purchase up to 10 antlerless deer licenses annually. 'Too many deer are eating crops in our fields and hitting cars on our roads — endangering lives, damaging vehicles, and reducing our food supply,' Wortz said in a statement. 'State officials are trying to promote doe hunting to put a stop to overpopulation, but not enough hunters are bucking trends and taking down doe. My plan will encourage this necessary population control with a very simple incentive: two free doe tags for every hunter. Making doe hunting more affordable will ease the way for Michiganders to immerse themselves in the great outdoors, bring home some venison and participate in critical conservation efforts.' Wortz's House Bill 4206 has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State Rep. Wortz responds to Gov. Whitmer's State of the State address
State Rep. Jennifer Wortz criticized Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's recent State of the State address, claiming the governor's conservative stance is insincere, according to a community announcement. 'Masquerading as a partial conservative in one speech won't undo the six years of damage the governor has inflicted on our state,' Wortz said in the announcement. Wortz, R-Quincy, expressed skepticism about Whitmer's recent conservative rhetoric, suggesting it might be an attempt to align with former President Donald Trump. 'I hope her shifting political outlook is genuine, but she needs to follow through with real action to help Republicans bring our state back from the brink,' Wortz said. Wortz criticized Whitmer's proposal to limit phone use in schools, calling it a minor step in addressing the state's educational challenges. 'Our education system is in the bottom 10 in the nation, and we need a real, comprehensive solution to fix the academic crisis she caused with her COVID lockdowns,' Wortz said. Wortz also emphasized the need to restore school safety funding, which she claims Whitmer cut from the budget last year. Wortz accused Whitmer of neglecting the needs of young men and boys during her tenure. 'This right turn from the governor appears good, but it's not enough,' Wortz said. Wortz urged Whitmer to collaborate with Republicans on conservative initiatives to address Michigan's economic, educational and infrastructure issues without imposing new taxes. Local lawmaker introduces resolution to celebrate Frederick Douglass Day 'If she's willing to work with Republicans to take positive, conservative action — not just sound nice — then people will 'think Michigan' when they think of successful states,' Wortz said. This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: State Rep. Jennifer Wortz criticizes Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
