The Government Advocacy and Affairs (GAA) Committee of the Junior League of the Great Lakes Bay Region educates our Junior League members on key issues impacting local communities, raises awareness of the Junior League among local officials and legislators, and informs members about the legislative process, including how to effectively influence legislation.

To achieve these goals, all 7 Michigan Junior Leagues have one or more representatives that participate in the Michigan State Council (MSC) of Junior Leagues’ State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC), a statewide, non-partisan committee that serves as the advocacy arm for the Michigan Leagues.  Together, they are dedicated to empowering our members to engage in advocacy to help meet the essential needs of our communities and the most vulnerable populations in our state.  Every two or three years, SPAC works closely with our retained lobbyist to determine our focus based on proposed legislation related to issues important to League members.  They also identify areas where new legislation might be introduced.  Our current focus is on foster care reform, maternal health, and intimate partner violence survivor support.

The Junior Leagues of Michigan have become an influential and respected voice in Lansing and beyond.  Thanks to our efforts, pesticides are banned from school playgrounds, tax of essential menstrual products has been repealed, foster children have a bill of rights, address confidentiality protections are in place, child marriage has been outlawed, human trafficking reform is underway and

The State Public Affairs Committee meets monthly via zoom to provide advocacy training, legislative updates, and discuss where we want to focus our collective voice.  All members are welcome to attend, and attendance is encouraged for members interested in future GAA Committee placement.

Recent Achievements

• As of September 2025, all bills supported during the Junior Leagues of Michigan’s 2025 Day at the Capitol—including the complete “Momnibus” maternal health package (SB 29–34, 36–39) and Senate Bill 18 supporting foster youth financial equity—have successfully passed both chambers of the Michigan Legislature and are now awaiting the Governor’s signature. These bills represent significant strides in advancing women’s health, addressing racial disparities in maternal care, and protecting the financial futures of foster youth across the state.
• In 2025, The Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) honored the State Public Affairs Committee of the Michigan Junior Leagues the 2025 Public Policy Award.  For more than six years, the Junior Leagues of Michigan – through their State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) – have been strong advocates for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.  These individuals were often forced to choose between their safety and their right to vote.  Thanks to SPAC’s unwavering efforts, the Address Confidentiality Program is now law and fully funded under the Michigan Attorney General’s Office. This critical program offers survivors a substitute address they can use when dealing with public agencies and certain private employers—helping protect their privacy while allowing them to safely engage in civic life.
• In 2024, The Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services bus stop by the State Street Kroger was successfully re-routed due to safety and accessibility concerns, prompted by a motion from one of the members of the Great Lakes Bay Region.  Effective March 1, 2024.
• In 2023, we advocated for a change in the law to raise marriage age to 18 in Michigan via HB 4302.  This was signed into law in September 2023.
• In 2020, we advocated for the Address Confidentiality Program which resulted in the passing of the Address Confidentiality Program Act 301 of 2020.
• In 2018, we advocated for Passing of Public Act 0489, Passing of Public Act 0490, Passing of Public Act 0632 known as “The Children’s Assurance of Quality Foster Care” and also known as “Foster Children’s Bill of Rights”