Budget & Taxes

signed · Michigan · Senate Jul 29, 2026

SB 106: Vehicles: fund-raising registration plates; fund-raising registration plate for spay and neuter clinics; create. Amends 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.1 - 257.923) by adding sec. 811kk.

SB 106 creates a special vehicle registration plate in Michigan that supports animal welfare. Vehicle owners who purchase this plate will contribute funds to a dedicated "Protecting Michigan's Pets Fund," managed by the state treasurer. The fund receives all plate sale proceeds and disburses money quarterly to the Michigan Pet Alliance to support spay/neuter programs and care for homeless/abused animals in shelters. This bill directly affects plate buyers and provides a new funding source for animal welfare organizations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated fund from plate sales to finance animal welfare programs, directly funding a public service via new revenue stream.95% confidence

passed both · Michigan · House Jun 12, 2025

HB 4011: Property: conveyance of state property; transfer of certain state-owned property in Arenac County; provide for. Creates land transfer act.

HB 4011 authorizes the transfer of two specific parcels of state-owned land in Arenac County (totaling ~118 acres) to local governments or land banks for public use. The bill requires that transfers occur at fair market value through competitive sales or direct agreements, with all proceeds (after costs) going to the state. It mandates that transferred land must be used for public purposes like parks, schools, or emergency services - not for-profit ventures - and prohibits charging different fees to the public. The transfer process requires approval from the state administrative board and includes specific deed restrictions to ensure ongoing public access.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill generates state revenue via land sales (proceeds to state budget) promoting fiscal responsibility without tax increases.95% confidence

Tags Local Government

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Jul 29, 2025

SB 489: Appropriations: supplemental; funding for the strategic outreach and attraction reserve fund; modify. Creates appropriation act & repeals secs. 109, 351, 352 & 353, art. 9 of 2024 PA 121.

SB 489 provides supplemental funding for Michigan's Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund, managed by the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (DOLEO), for fiscal year 2024-2025. The bill creates a new appropriation act to allocate this funding while repealing outdated sections (109, 351, 352, and 353) of a prior law (2024 PA 121). This funding supports state efforts to attract businesses and economic development initiatives. The bill directly affects DOLEO's budget operations and modifies existing financial authorization provisions. It is a procedural funding measure with no new policy mandates.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides supplemental funding for economic development reserve fund, directly increasing state budget allocation for fiscal operations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Jun 26, 2025

SB 471: Education: safety; behavioral threat assessment and management program fund; create. Amends 2018 PA 548 (MCL 28.801 - 28.809) by adding sec. 4a.

SB 471 creates a dedicated $13 million behavioral threat assessment and management program fund within Michigan's Department of Treasury for the 2025 fiscal year. The fund, administered by the Treasury Department, will finance developing, implementing, and maintaining school safety programs to assess student behavioral threats. It requires all funds to remain in the program (not lapse to the general fund) and be used exclusively for these school safety purposes. The bill directly affects Michigan public schools by providing targeted funding for this specific safety initiative, with the program expected to be fully operational by September 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $13M dedicated fund for school safety programs, ensuring funds remain allocated exclusively to this purpose without lapsing to general fund.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $13M dedicated fund for school safety programs under education, directly funding a key safety initiative for K-12 schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Michigan · House Feb 13, 2025

HB 4082: School aid: membership; requirements concerning counting pupils in membership; modify for pupils enrolled in certain work-based learning experiences. Amends secs. 6 & 11 of 1979 PA 94 (MCL 388.1606 & 388.1611) & adds sec. 61e.

HB 4082 modifies how Michigan school districts count students enrolled in work-based learning programs (like internships or apprenticeships) for state funding purposes. It adjusts the "membership" calculation - used to determine school aid - so these students are properly counted in the district where they receive their primary education, rather than being excluded due to their off-site learning. This change directly affects school districts, public school academies, and students participating in approved work-based learning experiences. The bill amends existing school aid law to ensure these students contribute to membership counts for funding, aligning with the state's goal of fair resource allocation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesModifies school funding formula to ensure accurate allocation of state aid for work-based learning students, supporting proper fiscal management of school budgets.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationModifies school funding calculation to include work-based learning students, ensuring accurate state aid allocation for districts and preventing defunding of programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education School Funding

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in committee · Michigan · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 4059: Use tax: exemptions; exemption for certain baby and toddler items; provide for. Amends 1937 PA 94 (MCL 205.91 - 205.111) by adding sec. 4mm.

HB 4059 exempts specific baby and toddler items from Michigan's use tax, meaning parents won't pay tax when purchasing these products. The bill adds 15 categories to the tax exemption list, including cribs, strollers, safety gates, breast pumps, bottles, diapers, and clothing accessories designed for infants or toddlers. It also defines detailed terms like "breast pump collection supplies" to clarify which products qualify for the exemption. This directly affects parents and caregivers buying essential infant products, making them tax-free at point of sale.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts baby/toddler items from use tax, providing direct tax relief to families purchasing essential childcare products.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Sales Tax Tax Incentives

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Aug 12, 2025

SB 493: School aid: local districts; grant program for school districts to maintain smaller classroom sizes; provide for. Amends 1979 PA 94 (MCL 388.1601 - 388.1896) by adding sec. 31c.

SB 493 creates a $65 million grant program for Michigan school districts to reduce K-3 class sizes, targeting high-need areas (Opportunity Index Band 4+). Districts must use at least 30% of their existing state aid funds to support these small classes, with average class sizes capped at 17 students (max 19 per class). The program prioritizes geographic diversity and specifically allocates funds to Muskegon Heights, Benton Harbor, Flint, and Wayne-Westland school districts for the 2025-2026 school year. Funds are a temporary two-year initiative, with unspent money carrying over to 2026-2027 to lower K-3 class sizes by 2030.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $65M grant program using state funds to reduce class sizes, increasing educational budget allocation and requiring districts to use existing state aid for this purpose.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates $65M grant to reduce K-3 class sizes in high-need districts, requiring 30% state aid use for smaller classes (max 17 students).95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Michigan · House Aug 20, 2025

HB 4773: Economic development: other; audit that would identify and return unspent money to the general fund for SOAR projects; require. Amends sec. 3 of 2018 PA 540 (MCL 18.1753) & adds sec. 7a. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4771'25

HB 4773 requires the Michigan Auditor General to conduct an annual audit of all funds spent through SOAR (Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve) programs and projects. The audit checks whether money needs repayment to the strategic fund, whether unspent SOAR funds were returned to the state's general fund, and if canceled projects properly reverted funds. It also verifies compliance with repayment rules and project documentation. These audits apply directly to SOAR-funded economic development projects, ensuring accountability for state funds allocated through these programs. The results must be reported to state agencies within 30 days of completion.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires annual audit to return unspent SOAR funds to general fund, ensuring fiscal accountability and proper budget management per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

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in committee · Michigan · House Aug 20, 2025

HB 4772: Economic development: other; certain funds; require to be returned to the general fund. Amends sec. 4 of 2000 PA 489 (MCL 12.254). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4771'25

HB 4772 would require unspent funds in Michigan's Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund to be returned to the state's general fund at year-end, rather than remaining in the reserve as currently allowed. This affects the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, which manages the fund, and applies to money restricted for two specific programs: the Critical Industry Program and the Michigan Strategic Site Readiness Program. The bill amends existing law to change the fund's handling of unspent balances, ensuring they flow back to the general fund instead of being retained. This is a procedural change to fund management, not a new policy or program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReturns unspent reserve funds to general fund, increasing available state budget resources and promoting fiscal responsibility.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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in committee · Michigan · House Aug 27, 2025

HB 4818: Education: school districts; requirements for borrowing money and issuing bonds; modify. Amends sec. 1351a of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1351a).

HB 4818 amends Michigan school district bonding rules to clarify what bond proceeds can fund. It prohibits using bonds for technology-related expenses like software upgrades, training, maintenance, consumables (e.g., ink, toner), or repairs outside warranties. School districts can still use bonds for physical infrastructure - such as building construction, buses, athletic fields, or facility upgrades - but only for the initial purchase and setup of technology hardware and software, as narrowly defined in the bill. The amendment also requires independent audits of bond spending within 120 days of project completion.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRestricts school district bond use for tech maintenance/upgrades, limiting budget allocation flexibility under fiscal management.92% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts bond funds from covering technology upgrades, maintenance, and consumables, limiting school districts' flexibility for ongoing tech expenses beyond initial hardware setup. This restriction aligns with 'oppose' stance indicators.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyProhibits bond funding for ongoing tech expenses (upgrades, maintenance, training), restricting school tech investments beyond initial hardware/software setup.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Debt & Bonds

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