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Grand Rapids commission adopts 2025 legislative agenda after debate over "constitutionality" language
Summary
The Grand Rapids City Commission approved its 2025 legislative priorities after a discussion about language referencing constitutionality that prompted one dissenting vote in a roll-call.
The Grand Rapids City Commission on Feb. 24 approved its 2025 legislative agenda after a debate over language tying the agenda to constitutional protections.
The resolution sets the city’s priorities for state and federal advocacy and emphasizes Grand Rapids’ goals to be an equitable, welcoming and innovative city. The resolution passed in a roll-call vote after members debated two amendments and language meant to align the agenda with the city’s Welcome Plan and immigrant-access priorities.
Commissioners discussed two amendments that the legislative committee had advanced to clarify how the city’s priorities relate to access and civic participation for residents of different immigration statuses and to harmonize the agenda with the Welcome Plan.
Commissioner Robbins, who voted against the resolution, said she opposed language that could be read as the city asserting it can determine constitutionality. "I take the Constitution very seriously," Robbins said during debate. "I don't want to give the impression that the city is the determinant of what is constitutional or unconstitutional, and I don't want to put the city in a position that could make us liable." The rest of the commission voted to adopt the agenda.
The clerk recorded the roll-call vote as: Commissioner Kilgore — yes; Commissioner Assasi — yes; Commissioner Robbins — no; Commissioner Perdue — yes; Commissioner Knight — yes; Commissioner Belchak — yes; Mayor LeGrand — yes. The measure therefore passed.
The legislative agenda is intended to prioritize items for city staff and external advocates and guide the city’s positions at the state and federal level. Commissioners said the document helps external partners understand where Grand Rapids will concentrate its advocacy in 2025.
The commission referred the adopted agenda to appropriate staff and to its legislative committee for any next steps.
Minority and inclusion goals that staff described as part of other agenda items in the meeting (for development projects and Brownfield plans) were not changed by this vote and remain separate from the legislative priorities adopted by the commission.
The city clerk will publish the adopted 2025 legislative agenda on the city website and make the document available to partner organizations and legislative contacts.
