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Hope, Kara (D)

Office: S1086 HOB Term: Second Phone: (517) 373-0587 Email: KaraHope@house.mi.gov Home Address: PO Box 21002, Lansing, MI 48909 Website: https://housedems.com/hope Seat Number: 99 Standing Committees: Workforce, Trades & Talent, Judiciary, Agriculture (C) = Chair, (VC) = Vice Chair

POLITICAL CAREER

Rep. Hope was first elected to the House on Nov. 6, 2018 when she defeated Republican Leon CLARK by securing 53.7% of the vote. 

Hope won out in a five-candidate Democratic primary battle when she secured 71.9% of the vote.

In 2020, Hope ran unopposed in the August primary.  She defeated her GOP general election primary Nate ROSS 54.3% to 45.6% to earn her second term.  

She ran for the Ingham County Board of Commissioners in 2012, where she has served until her election to the House.

WORK EXPERIENCE

After college, she worked for the newspaper in her hometown of Ionia. 

After law school, Hope worked as a pre-hearing attorney in the Michigan Court of Appeals and then as a defense attorney before going on to teach as an adjunct professor at Cooley Law School. 

She started her solo practice in 2015, specializing in family law.

Hope also is the founding president of the all-volunteer nonprofit Holt Community Arts Council, which provides arts opportunities and events like the free, annual summer concert series Music in the Garden.

To read MIRS biography of Rep. Hope, click here.

EDUCATION

She has a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University.

PERSONAL

Hope, the daughter of two corrections officers, is married. She and her husband raised their niece, who is now a college student, and are raising their nephew, who is in high school.

LEAD STAFF PERSON:

Additional Information

• Sponsored Bills
• MIRS Stories

 HB 4104  - CRIMES, Prostitution, Modifies references to prostitute and prostitution in the revised judicature act of 1961. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4112'21
(Status: 02/03/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY )

 HB 4173  - CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, Other, This bill increases the maximum amount counties can offer as a reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction by eliminating the $2,000 cap.
(Status: 02/09/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY )

 HB 4227  - FAMILY LAW, Marriage and Divorce, Eliminate reference to marriage entered into by a person under the age of 18.
(Status: 02/11/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FAMILIES, CHILDREN & SENIORS)

 HB 4360  - Elections, Offenses, This bill prohibits a circulator from misrepresenting the contents of a ballot question or recall petition, and establishes penalties.
(Status: 02/25/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS AND ETHICS )

 HB 4367  - CAMPAIGN FINANCE, Committees, This bill revises the definition of committee to include a political organization recognized by the IRS under 26 USC 527 that has an officer, director, board members, or trustee who is a resident of this state. The bill requires a candidate committee of a candidate who controls or directs a political organization to provide information on all donors, contributions, and expenditures of that political organization.
(Status: 02/25/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS AND ETHICS )

 HB 4518  - NATURAL RESOURCES, Gas and Oil, Prohibits use of flowback water from hydraulic fracturing process on dirt roads as a dust suppression tool.
(Status: 03/16/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION )

 HB 4760  - WORKERS COMPENSATION, Benefits, Provides for decreased amount of compensation benefits based on federal unemployment or pandemic benefits. Amends sec. 354 & 358 of 1969 PA 317 (MCL 418.354 & 418.358).
(Status: 04/29/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON WORKFORCE, TRADES & TALENT )

 HB 4890  - LAW ENFORCEMENT, Fire Personnel, Updates cross-reference to the Michigan fireworks safety act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4891'21
(Status: 05/20/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON REGULATORY REFORM )

 HB 4987  - JUVENILES, Other, This bill eliminates juvenile fines, fees, and costs. The bill also states that juveniles must not be placed outside of the home solely for the nonpayment of restitution or the refusal to perform community service.
(Status: 06/10/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY )

 HB 5035  - COMMUNICATIONS, Broadcasting, Eliminate certain restriction for the authorized use of Michigan public safety communications system.
(Status: 06/16/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY)

 HB 5108  - EDUCATION, School Districts, This bill would require school improvement plans to now include the development and implementation of targeted professional development plans for each teacher.
(Status: 06/23/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION )

 HB 5135  - LABOR, Fair Employment Practices, NEW, Regulate labor service agencies.
(Status: 06/24/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON WORKFORCE AND TALENT )

 HB 5136   - LABOR, Hours and Wages, NEW, Provide for scheduling standards for certain employers.
(Status: 06/24/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON WORKFORCE AND TALENT )

 HB 5174  - APPROPRIATIONS, Supplemental, NEW, Provide funding for gun violence prevention program .
(Status: 06/28/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS )

 HB 5217  - TAXATION, Other, Make certain references in the real estate transfer tax act gender neutral.
(Status: 07/01/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS )

 HB 5282  - Elections, Offenses, Prohibit intimidating an election inspector or preventing an election inspector from performing her or her duties.
(Status: 08/18/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS AND ETHICS )

 HB 5327   - HIGHWAYS, Memorial, Designate portion of US-127 as the "Trooper Starr Memorial Highway".
(Status: 09/22/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION )

 HB 5328  - PROPERTY, State Buildings, Eliminate prohibition for signs inside the state capitol.
(Status: 09/22/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS )

 HB 5329  - PROPERTY TAX, Assessments, This bill provides an opt-out option to the requirement that counties have a designated assessor.
(Status: 09/22/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND MUNICIPAL FINANCE )

 HCR 0006  - A concurrent resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to oppose recommendations to privatize and slow the service of the United States Postal Service., A concurrent resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to oppose recommendations to privatize and slow the service of the United States Postal Service.
(Status: 04/21/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS )

 HR 0026  - A resolution to amend the Standing Rules of the House of Representatives., A resolution to amend the Standing Rules of the House of Representatives.
(Status: 02/03/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS )

 HR 0058  - Ban Child Marriage Day in the state of Michigan., A resolution to declare March 18, 2021, as Ban Child Marriage Day in the state of Michigan.
(Status: 03/18/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND SENIORS )

 HR 0124  - Gun Violence Awareness Month in the state of Michigan, A resolution to declare June 2021 as Gun Violence Awareness Month in the state of Michigan.
(Status: 06/08/2021 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS )

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'Intimidating' Election Official May Mean Jail Time Under Bill (08-26-2021)

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Wouldn't It Be Nice If We Could . . . Wait Until Age 18 (02-12-2021)

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