HB 4157 creates a pilot program for a state-administered assessment system in Michigan public schools, replacing the current M-STEP testing. It requires item analysis for all tests (showing which questions students answered correctly and common mistakes) and mandates that districts use only student enrollment data from the time of testing when calculating school performance scores. The bill allocates $500,000 for an online tool to provide secure, immediate access to student-level assessment data for educators and parents. This bill directly affects public school districts receiving state aid and their students in grades 11-12, as it modifies assessment requirements under the State School Aid Act.
HB 4147 creates a dedicated "school consolidation and infrastructure fund" within Michigan's state school aid budget to support feasibility studies for consolidating administrative and service functions across school districts. It allocates $5 million for grants (up to $250,000 per district) to analyze opportunities in shared services like payroll, IT systems, facility management, food services, and transportation. Districts receiving grants must publicly share study results within 60 days and demonstrate plans for potential consolidation. The fund’s money remains available year-to-year without lapsing, but the bill does not fund actual consolidation - only the preliminary studies.
HB 4230 creates a new "neighborhood road fund" in Michigan's state treasury, funded by $100 million annually from income tax revenues (specifically from Section 695 of the 1967 Income Tax Act). This fund directly affects county road commissions, city and village road agencies, and the local bridge advisory board. Key provisions require $100 million yearly to be reserved exclusively for repairing closed, restricted, and critical bridges (managed by the advisory board), while the remaining funds are distributed to road agencies based on their road mileage - $100,000 per county commission plus a mileage-based share for all counties, and similarly for cities/villages. The bill specifies these funds must cover road preservation, maintenance, and preventative work without requiring local matching funds.
HB 4170 permanently sets Michigan's individual income tax rate at 4.05% for all taxpayers, replacing a temporary 4.25% rate scheduled to take effect in 2024. It creates a mechanism where the rate could decrease further if state revenue growth exceeds inflation, requiring annual revenue reviews. The bill directly affects all Michigan residents who pay individual income tax. The change takes effect immediately for tax years beginning January 1, 2025, with the 4.05% rate now permanent unless triggered by the revenue growth condition.
HB 4014 exempts certain family transfers of residential property from a rule that normally resets property taxes to current market value after a sale or transfer. It specifically applies when property is transferred to close family members (such as parents, children, or siblings) through trusts, wills, or inheritances, provided the property isn't used commercially afterward. To qualify, beneficiaries must provide proof of their relationship within 30 days, or face a $200 fine. The bill modifies Michigan’s property tax law to prevent "taxable value" adjustments that would otherwise increase annual property tax bills significantly for these transfers.
HB 4162 allocates $17.77 billion in state and federal funds for Michigan's K-12 public schools for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, primarily from the state school aid fund and other designated trust funds. It sets a new target per-student funding level of $10,025 and establishes a formula to calculate each school district's foundation allowance based on the previous year's funding, inflation (using the Consumer Price Index), and the target amount. School districts with funding below the target receive adjusted increases, while those above the target see smaller raises tied to inflation. The bill directly affects all public school districts by determining their state funding allocation through this updated formula.
