Beyond the Bill: Sen. Roger Hauck (R-Mt. Pleasant)

Beyond the Bill is a new segment that features a Michigan Legislator for Detroit Regional Chamber members to get to know on a more personal level and highlight their legislative priorities.  

Michigan Sen. Roger Hauck (R-Mt. Pleasant) represents Michigan’s 34th Senate District, which includes Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Osceola, Mecosta, and Isabella counties and parts of Bay, Clinton, Lake, Midland, and Saginaw counties. Before serving as a state senator, Hauck served as a Union Township trustee and served three terms in the Michigan House of Representatives prior to being term-limited. Hauck currently serves as the Minority Vice Chair on the Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee, Energy and Environment Committee, Health Policy Committee, and multiple Appropriations Subcommittees.  

In his free time, Hauck enjoys bow hunting, fishing, and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle around his district. 

This legislative session, Hauck is focused on cutting red tape and modernizing Michigan’s regulatory system, with a focus on removing barriers, like housing regulations, that impact small businesses, entrepreneurs, and builders. Looking to the future, he believes Michigan must prioritize strengthening its overall business climate to remain competitive in attracting investment and jobs. 

“Excessive regulations hinder small businesses by driving up costs, delaying projects, creating barriers to entry, and pushing jobs and investment out of state,” he said. “By reforming these barriers, we can speed up development, build more homes of all types, and make homeownership achievable again for Michigan families.” 

Hesitating to identify a single “silver bullet” piece of legislation, Hauck said the most impactful economic policies are often those that quietly remove burdens for everyday Michiganders.

“There is no magic bill that will single‑handedly fix Michigan’s economy,” he said. “Too often we look for sweeping solutions instead of the small results that make a real difference.”

He cites his past work on the repeal of the driver responsibility fee and on surprise medical billing protections as examples of targeted reforms that directly improve financial stability for residents.

Looking toward the state’s long‑term workforce needs, Hauck sees a significant opportunity in hands‑on training, apprenticeships, and industry‑aligned upskilling programs.

“The biggest opportunity is getting more people into training programs that match the good‑paying jobs companies need right now,” he explained. “Policy should give employers the tools and incentives to tailor workforce training to their needs.”

Hauck’s district is among the most rural in the Lower Peninsula; consequently, rural challenges often go unseen at the statewide level. Chief among these is broadband connectivity and rural infrastructure, issues he says are foundational to long‑term economic competitiveness.

“Broadband gaps affect economic growth, remote work opportunities, and access to telehealth and online education,” he said. “These challenges widen the urban‑rural divide and make it harder to attract young families and talent.”