Education

passed both · Michigan · House May 13, 2025

HB 4239: Higher education: other; foreign influence of state institutions of higher education; prohibit. Creates new act.

HB 4239, the "foreign influence of state institutions of higher education act," prohibits Michigan public colleges and universities from entering agreements or accepting grants from specific "foreign countries of concern" (including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, and Syria) if those arrangements control curriculum, threaten U.S. security, or restrict contracting freedom. It requires all gifts from foreign sources to be formalized through written agreements and mandates reporting of certain gifts to state officials. The law also bars accepting items of value conditioned on promoting a foreign country's language or culture and requires cultural exchange agreements with listed countries to be reviewed by U.S. federal agencies for national security risks. These provisions directly affect all 15 Michigan public universities and community colleges.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill prohibits foreign influence on higher education curriculum, protecting academic integrity and security, thus supporting education.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

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passed both · Michigan · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 4159: Education: curriculum; core academic curriculum requirements; modify. Amends sec. 1278 of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1278).

HB 4159 requires Michigan public school districts to provide a core academic curriculum aligned with state-developed standards for all students. It specifically mandates that history standards for grades 8-12 include learning objectives on genocide (including the Holocaust and Armenian Genocide), and that reading/writing standards for K-6 must use evidence-based "science of reading" methods focusing on phonics, decoding, and structured literacy. The bill also prohibits curriculum content that includes non-essential values or beliefs, and requires assessments to measure academic skills - not student attitudes. School districts must fully adopt these K-6 standards by the 2026-2027 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates evidence-based reading methods and genocide education in history, strengthening curriculum standards to improve student learning outcomes per state requirements.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

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passed both · Michigan · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 4157: Education: examinations; pilot programs for a state-administered assessment system; create. Amends secs. 11, 104, 104b & 104c of 1979 PA 94 (MCL 388.1611 et seq.) & adds sec. 104d. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4158'25

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $500,000 for state assessment tool, funding an education program under appropriations.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates state assessment pilot with $500k funding, requires item analysis for transparency, and mandates data use improvements to enhance educational assessment quality.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAllocates $500,000 for secure online tool to access student data, enhancing data privacy and cybersecurity for educational assessments.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

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passed both · Michigan · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 4156: Education: curriculum; merit curriculum; modify. Amends secs. 1278a & 1278b of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1278a & 380.1278b) & adds sec. 1278e.

HB 4156 amends Michigan's high school graduation requirements for diplomas. It modifies mathematics credit rules by allowing students to fulfill algebra II requirements through approved career and technical education programs (e.g., engineering, computer science) that cover equivalent content, rather than solely through traditional math courses. The bill also clarifies social science requirements, specifying that students entering grade 8 before 2023 may satisfy the economics credit with a personal economics course containing financial literacy, while maintaining core history and civics requirements for all students. These changes directly affect Michigan high school students and school districts by altering diploma eligibility criteria.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAmends graduation requirements to allow CTE programs to fulfill math credits, expanding curriculum options and career pathways for students without reducing academic standards.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill enables computer science programs to fulfill algebra II requirements, promoting tech education pathways within graduation standards.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

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passed both · Michigan · House Apr 15, 2025

HB 4147: School aid: other; use of funding for consolidation of administrative and service functions; allow. Amends sec. 11x of 1979 PA 94 (MCL 388.1611x).

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $5M from school aid budget for consolidation feasibility studies, increasing funding for public school administrative efficiency.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $5M for grants to study administrative consolidation, aiming to improve efficiency in school district operations and resource allocation within education funding structure.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Michigan · House Apr 15, 2025

HB 4154: Education: career and technical; trade schools; include in the postsecondary enrollment options act. Amends sec. 3 of 1996 PA 160 (MCL 388.513).

HB 4154 amends Michigan's Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act to explicitly include trade schools as eligible institutions for high school students to take college-level courses at reduced cost. This change directly affects Michigan high school students who want to enroll in career-focused programs at trade schools, allowing them to access the same tuition support previously available only at community colleges and universities. The bill updates the definition of "eligible postsecondary institution" to specifically list trade schools, without altering existing rules about course limits, fees, or student eligibility. This clarifies that trade schools can now participate in the program, expanding educational pathways for students seeking vocational training.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access by including trade schools in tuition support for career-focused programs, aligning with K-12 postsecondary options.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Michigan · House Apr 15, 2025

HB 4149: Education: school districts; certain information on the school district's, intermediate school district's, or public school academy's website; require a school district, an intermediate school district, or a public school academy to post. Amends 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1 - 380.1852) by adding sec. 1280h.

HB 4149 requires Michigan public school districts, intermediate school districts, and public school academies to post a link to the MI School Data parent dashboard on their public websites by July 1, 2026. Starting July 1, 2027, these schools must annually send parents or guardians a notification including specific school performance data from the dashboard, such as state assessment results by subject. The state’s Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI) must expand the MI School Data website to include all parent dashboard data and add a school comparison feature. This bill directly affects all public schools in Michigan and their enrolled students’ families by increasing transparency around school performance metrics.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school districts to post performance data and notify parents annually, enhancing transparency and accountability in educational outcomes per MI School Data dashboard requirements.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Michigan · House Apr 15, 2025

HB 4185: Sales tax: distribution; distribution of revenue; modify. Amends sec. 25 of 1933 PA 167 (MCL 205.75). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4183'25, HB 4182'25, HB 4181'25, HB 4180'25, HB 4186'25, HB 4187'25, HB 4184'25

HB 4185 changes how Michigan's general sales tax revenue is distributed. It directs 15% of the 4% sales tax to cities, villages, and townships through the Glenn Steil Revenue Sharing Act. Sixty percent goes to the state school aid fund (including all 2% tax from aviation fuel sales), while 27.9% of 25% from vehicle/fuel sales funds the transportation system. Additionally, it requires $9-12 million annually from computer software sales to the Michigan health initiative fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirects 60% of sales tax to school aid, 27.9% to transportation, and $9-12M to health initiative, strengthening public service funding without tax increases.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirects 60% of sales tax revenue to state school aid fund, explicitly increasing K-12 funding allocation without restrictions.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationDirectly allocates 27.9% of vehicle/fuel sales tax revenue to fund Michigan's transportation system, meeting funding criteria for support.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

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passed both · Michigan · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 4150: Education: other; fees for evaluation of applications; eliminate. Amends secs. 1531h & 1538 of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1531h & 380.1538).

HB 4150 eliminates application evaluation fees for school-related processes under Michigan's Revised School Code. It directly affects individuals applying for educational certifications, programs, or school-related services by removing a requirement to pay fees when their applications are reviewed. The bill amends two specific sections (MCL 380.1531h and 380.1538) to delete the fee mandate, streamlining the application process. This change applies statewide to all relevant school applications governed by the revised code. The bill passed the Michigan House with strong support (83-26) on March 12, 2025, and is now awaiting further legislative action.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEliminates application evaluation fees for educational certifications/services, reducing financial barriers and improving access to school-related programs under Michigan's Revised School Code.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

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passed both · Michigan · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 4153: Education: teachers and administrators; district-level certifications; provide for. Amends secs. 501, 521, 551, 1231, 1233, 1311b, 1526, 1535a & 1809 of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.501 et seq.) & adds sec. 1531l.

HB 4153 creates a new "local teaching certificate" pathway for educators in Michigan. It amends the Revised School Code to define a "certificated teacher" as including individuals holding either a standard teaching certificate or this new local certificate (under added Section 1531l). The bill directly affects teachers seeking certification through local school districts or authorized entities, rather than the standard state-issued process. Key provisions establish that local certificates must meet state standards but can be issued by districts or approved entities, expanding certification options for schools. This change modifies existing sections (501, 521, 551, etc.) to incorporate the new local certificate type into teacher certification requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates alternative certification pathway for teachers, expanding access to teaching roles without state oversight, supporting educator recruitment and flexibility.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

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