Senator Rosemary Bayer

Political Party: Democratic

District: Michigan State Senate District 13

Rosemary Bayer was born on January 2, 1959, in Royal Oak, Michigan. She is a lifelong Michigander who grew up as a Girl Scout leader and council board member, instilled with strong values of community service and civic responsibility by her parents. Her father was a former mayor and military service member, and her grandfather founded a local community foundation.

Before entering politics, Bayer built a successful career in information technology as a computer engineer and analyst, where she developed and invented products to solve complex business challenges. She led development and infrastructure teams across the Midwest for numerous organizations.

Bayer is married to John Lisiecki and has a daughter, Erin Mack, who is pursuing a career in STEM.

Education

Bayer holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with minors in Math and Chemistry from Central Michigan University . She earned an MBA with Distinction from Lawrence Technological University's School of Management in 2003, completing a Career Integrated program .

Political Experience

Bayer was first elected to the Michigan Senate in 2018, representing District 12. She was reelected and now represents Senate District 13, which includes parts of Commerce Township, Farmington Hills, and Novi Township, as well as all of Keego Harbor, Northville, Northville Township, Novi, Orchard Lake Village, Plymouth, Plymouth Township, Sylvan Lake, Walled Lake, and West Bloomfield Township. She is currently serving her second term.

Notable Positions and Achievements:

• Chair of the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential Committee
• Chair of the Michigan Department of Education Committee
• Majority Vice Chair of the General Government Committee
• Majority Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules
• Chair of Michigan's legislative Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention Caucus
• Vice Chair of the Poverty and Homelessness Caucus
• Minority Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations School Aid Fund and Department of Education

Her legislative priorities include education funding, environmental protection, climate resilience, public health, paid leave, reproductive healthcare access, and gun violence prevention. Her first piece of legislation was the Human Right to Water Act, and her first bill signed into law required major air polluters to pay for remediation.

Community Leadership:

Bayer co-founded ardentCause , a company providing affordable data products and services to the nonprofit sector. She also co-founded the Michigan Council of Women in Technology in 2001, a nonprofit offering STEM programming and support for girls and women throughout Michigan. She serves on the boards of NEW, Solutions for Nonprofits, and the SheHive, a women's collective empowering women.