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Hope, Kara (D)

Office: S1086 HOB Term: First Phone: (517) 373-0587 Email: KaraHope@house.mi.gov Home Address: PO Box 21002, Lansing, MI 48909 Website: https://housedems.com/hope Seat Number: 107 Standing Committees: Local Government & Municipal Finance, Commerce & Tourism, Elections & Ethics (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 percent of the vote. 

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

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

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 HB 4005  - FAMILY LAW, Marriage and Divorce, Void minimum entered into by a person under 18 years of age. TIE BAR WITH HB 4003 and HB 4004
(Status: 01/09/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY )

 HB 4045  - CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, Other, Increases maximum reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
(Status: 10/06/2020 - SENATE - COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE S-1 - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE)

 HB 4072  - NATURAL RESOURCES, Gas and Oil, Prohibits the use of flowback water from hydraulic fracturing process on dirt roads as a dust suppression tool.
(Status: 01/23/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION )

 HB 4073  - STATE FINANCING AND MANAGEMENT, Other, Requires requirement for state agencies to translate their public websites into languages spoken by at least 2.5% of Michigan's population.
(Status: 01/23/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS )

 HB 4074  - FAMILY LAW, Child Custody, Removes the exemption allowing person convicted of certain criminal sexual conduct to be granted custody.
(Status: 01/23/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY )

 HB 4433  - PUBLIC UTILITIES, Rates, Grants to public service commission the power to set rates for certain water and sewer authorities.
(Status: 04/09/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND MUNICIPAL FINANCE )

 HB 4690  - WEAPONS, Firearms, Provides for certain requirements before individual may rent, lease, or loan a firearm.
(Status: 06/05/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY )

 HB 4796  - APPROPRIATIONS, Supplemental, Provides for funding for the demolition of certain school buildings.
(Status: 06/26/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS )

 HB 4921  - CAMPAIGN FINANCE, Committees, Revises definitions of candidate committee and committee.
(Status: 09/05/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS AND ETHICS )

 HB 5022  - LABOR, Fair Employment Practices, NEW, Regulates labor service agencies.
(Status: 09/25/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND TOURISM )

 HB 5023  - LABOR, Hours and Wages, NEW, Provides for scheduling standards for certain employers.
(Status: 09/25/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND TOURISM )

 HB 5372  - CIVIL PROCEDURE, Civil Actions, Creates new fines and penalties including three times damages for the bringing of a civil law suit against someone exercising their right to petition under the state or federal constitution or based on the exercise of their freedom of speech.
(Status: 01/21/2020 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND MUNICIPAL FINANCE )

 HB 5449  - ELECTIONS, Election Officials, Allows elections inspectors working in shifts on an absent voter counting board.
(Status: 02/04/2020 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS AND ETHICS )

 HB 5450  - APPROPRIATIONS, Supplemental, Provides for allocation of certain funds to municipal, city, village, or township election clerks to increase the pay of elections inspectors.
(Status: 02/04/2020 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS )

 HB 5647  - CRIMES, Prostitution, Modifies references to prostitute and prostitution in the revised judicature act of 1961. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5655'20
(Status: 03/12/2020 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY )

 HB 5865  - PROPERTY, State Buildings, prohibition for signs inside the state capitol; eliminate.
(Status: 06/18/2020 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS )

 HB 5925  - LAW ENFORCEMENT, Other, NEW, Prohibits use of tear gas.
(Status: 06/25/2020 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY )

 HB 5960  - EDUCATION, School Districts, Requires school improvement plan to include certain professional development plans.
(Status: 07/22/2020 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION )

 HB 5965  - CONSTRUCTION, Fire Safety, Updates cross-reference to the Michigan fireworks safety act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5968'20
(Status: 07/22/2020 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON REGULATORY REFORM )

 HB 5967  - FIREWORKS, Other, Updates cross-reference to the Michigan fireworks safety act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5968'20
(Status: 07/22/2020 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON REGULATORY REFORM )

 HB 6085  - TAXATION, Other, Makes certain references in the real estate transfer tax act gender neutral.
(Status: 08/06/2020 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS )

 HB 6247  - LEGISLATURE, Legislative agencies, Modifies duties of the legislative council. TIE BAR WITH: HB 6246'20
(Status: 09/22/2020 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS )

 HCR 0018  - Privatizing the United States Postal Service, A concurrent resolution to urge the United States Congress to oppose recommendations to privatize the United States Postal Service.
(Status: 03/12/2020 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS )

 HR 0057  - United States Department of Health and Human Servi; President; Title X family planning program, A resolution to urge the President and the United States Department of Health and Human Services to repeal the new rule changing funding eligibility for the Title X family planning program.
(Status: 04/09/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND SENIORS )

 HR 0068  - Healthcare Decisions Day, A resolution to declare April 16, 2019, as Healthcare Decisions Day in the state of Michigan.
(Status: 04/16/2019 - HOUSE - ADOPTED)

 HR 0097  - Celiac Disease Awareness Week, A resolution to declare May 13-19, 2019, as Celiac Disease Awareness Week in the state of Michigan.
(Status: 05/14/2019 - HOUSE - ADOPTED)

 HR 0187  - Violence Against Women Act, A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.
(Status: 10/23/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY )

 HR 0213  - A resolution to urge the President and the United States Department of Agriculture to repeal the new work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program., A resolution to urge the President and the United States Department of Agriculture to repeal the new work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
(Status: 01/14/2020 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS)

 HR 0236  - Women's History Month in the state of Michigan, A resolution to declare March 2020 as Women's History Month in the state of Michigan.
(Status: 03/03/2020 - HOUSE - ADOPTED)

 HR 0247  - A resolution to memorialize the United States Department of the Treasury to use its rulemaking authority to exempt Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act stimulus payments from garnishment by creditors and debt collectors., A resolution to memorialize the United States Department of the Treasury to use its rulemaking authority to exempt Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act stimulus payments from garnishment by creditors and debt collectors.
(Status: 04/16/2020 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES)

 HR 0255  - Addressing the unique needs of domestic violence victims and survivors in the next phase of federal stimulus funding in response to COVID-19., A resolution to encourage Congress to address the unique needs of domestic violence victims and survivors in the next phase of federal stimulus funding in response to COVID-19.
(Status: 05/13/2020 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY)

 HR 0268  - 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: 05/27/2020 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS)

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