Education

in committee · Michigan · Senate Mar 20, 2025

SB 197: Higher education: tuition; Michigan tuition grant program; modify. Amends secs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 7a of 1966 PA 313 (MCL 390.991 et seq.).

SB 197 updates Michigan's tuition grant program for in-state students attending eligible nonprofit colleges. It modifies eligibility rules, including limiting undergraduate grants to 10 semesters (12 for 2020-2021 students), excluding theology programs, and preventing overlap with Michigan Achievement Scholarships. The program, administered by the Department of Lifelong Education, bases awards on family financial need using criteria from a 1964 state law, with grants covering tuition and fees up to the college's annual rate or financial need. Students with private scholarships covering full tuition are ineligible, while those with partial coverage may receive proportional grants.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationModifies tuition grant program to maintain funding for eligible students, adjusts eligibility rules without defunding, aligns with financial aid support for higher education access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 212: School aid: penalties; exception to minimum days of pupil instruction requirement for district closure during a declared state of emergency; provide for. Amends sec. 101 of 1979 PA 94 (MCL 388.1701).

Senate Bill 212 aims to amend Michigan's State School Aid Act. Based on its title, the bill intends to create an exception for school districts to the minimum number of pupil instruction days required for state aid eligibility, specifically when districts close during a declared state of emergency. The provided truncated bill text outlines existing requirements for districts to report pupil attendance and meet minimum instructional hours and days to receive state aid, along with penalties for non-compliance. However, the specific language detailing the proposed exception for state of emergency closures is not included in this truncated text.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrevents loss of state school aid during emergencies by waiving minimum instruction day requirements, protecting district funding stability without defunding or restricting education operations.90% confidence

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in committee · Michigan · House Apr 23, 2025

HB 4374: Property tax: exemptions; exemption from state education tax for certain residential property and certain agricultural property; provide for. Amends 1893 PA 206 (MCL 211.1 - 211.155) by adding sec. 9q. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4373'25

House Bill 4374 proposes to exempt certain properties from the state education tax, effective for taxes levied after December 31, 2025. This bill directly affects owners of residential real property and specific agricultural properties. To qualify, agricultural property must have a single-family dwelling occupied by an owner actively involved in farming who has not claimed a principal residence exemption on other property. The bill will only take effect if House Bill 4373 is also enacted into law.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExempts properties from state education tax, reducing state tax revenue and limiting government fiscal resources.90% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationExempts properties from state education tax, reducing potential school funding. Directly defunds education by lowering tax revenue for schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax

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in committee · Michigan · House Mar 13, 2025

HB 4228: Education: safety; certain school safety and security training; require the department of state police and the office of school safety within the department of state police to provide to certain school personnel. Amends 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1 - 380.1852) by adding sec. 1308f.

HB 4228 requires Michigan's Department of State Police and its Office of School Safety to provide annual training to all school staff, school resource officers, and school safety personnel in public and nonpublic schools. The training covers key safety topics including threat assessment protocols (based on the Secret Service's guidelines), de-escalation techniques, emergency response procedures, cultural competence, mental health services, and legal authority in school settings. It also mandates specific legal training from the Attorney General's office on officers' authority and security personnel limitations. The bill directly affects every school employee in Michigan by establishing standardized safety training requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates annual safety training for school staff, covering threat assessment, de-escalation, and mental health - directly strengthening school safety protocols within education policy.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health services training for school personnel, advancing mental health integration into school safety protocols per bill's required topics.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates annual safety training for school staff including threat assessment and de-escalation, directly improving workplace safety standards for employees.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Michigan · House Apr 23, 2025

HB 4373: Property tax: exemptions; exemption from state education tax for certain residential property and certain agricultural property; provide for. Amends secs. 2 & 3 of 1993 PA 331 (MCL 211.902 & 211.903).

House Bill 4373 proposes to amend the State Education Tax Act by creating new property tax exemptions. Beginning in 2026, the bill would exempt residential real property from the state education tax. It would also exempt certain qualified agricultural property that includes a single-family dwelling, provided the owner actively uses the land for agriculture and has not claimed a principal residence exemption on other property. This change directly affects owners of qualifying residential and agricultural properties by removing their obligation to pay the state education tax.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates tax exemptions for residential and agricultural property owners, reducing state education tax burden and providing tax relief per support indicators.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill exempts residential/agricultural property from state education tax, reducing dedicated funding for schools starting 2026.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax

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in committee · Michigan · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 4405: Employment security: benefits; low-wage school employees to collect unemployment benefits during the summer months; allow. Amends sec. 27 of 1936 (Ex Sess) PA 1 (MCL 421.27).

House Bill 4405 aims to allow low-wage school employees to collect unemployment benefits during the summer months. It amends Section 27 of the Michigan employment security act to adjust how weekly unemployment benefits are calculated. The bill increases the maximum weekly benefit rate and the monetary allowance for each dependent. These adjustments are scheduled to be phased in annually, beginning in January 2025 and continuing through January 2028, affecting individuals eligible for unemployment benefits.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides unemployment benefits for low-wage school employees during summer, directly supporting educators' financial stability and workforce retention in education.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands unemployment benefits for low-wage school employees during summer, increasing weekly benefit rates and dependent allowances, directly advancing worker benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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passed · Michigan · House Apr 21, 2026

HB 4477: Education: curriculum; instruction in water safety; require. Amends 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1 - 380.1852) by adding sec. 1170c.

House Bill 4477 mandates that public school districts and public school academies provide water safety instruction to students. Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, students will receive age- and grade-appropriate water safety instruction as part of their physical education courses, covering topics such as proper use of flotation devices and awareness of water conditions. The Department of Education is tasked with developing a model water safety program for schools by December 2025. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services will create a multilingual informational notice on water safety, which all public and nonpublic schools must distribute annually to parents or legal guardians starting October 2026. The bill also grants civil liability immunity to institutions and individuals involved in developing and distributing this informational notice.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates water safety curriculum in physical education, enhancing student safety education as part of required school instruction.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · Michigan · House Aug 25, 2026

HB 4202: Individual income tax: exemptions; additional exemption for fetus; provide for. Amends sec. 30 of 1967 PA 281 (MCL 206.30).

HB 4202 amends Michigan's income tax code to update deductions for retirement benefits and education-related payments. It specifically adjusts the maximum deductible amount for retirement/pension benefits (currently $42,240 for singles/$84,480 for couples) to automatically increase annually based on the Consumer Price Index, and clarifies rules for deducting payments made to Michigan's education trust for tuition. The bill affects Michigan taxpayers who claim these deductions, particularly retirees and those using education trust programs. It does not create a new "fetus exemption" (a misstatement in the bill title), but refines existing tax code provisions for retirement income and education savings. The bill is currently in committee after its March 2025 introduction.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAmends tax code to increase retirement benefit deductions via CPI adjustment, providing tax relief for taxpayers and promoting fiscal responsibility through automatic inflation adjustment.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies tax deductions for education trust tuition payments, reducing costs for families and improving access to education through tax relief.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Pensions

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passed · Michigan · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 163: Appropriations: capital outlay; appropriations for fiscal year 2025-2026; provide for. Creates appropriation act.

SB 163 is a funding bill that allocates $2.4 billion from Michigan's state general fund for capital outlay projects during fiscal year 2025-2026. It directly provides state funding for construction, renovation, or equipment projects at state-owned properties, public universities (like Michigan State and the University of Michigan), and community colleges (including Lansing Community College and Washtenaw Community College). The bill specifies state shares for 12 projects, such as $22.1 million for Ferris State's Allied Health Building and $9.6 million for Washtenaw Community College's Center for Success. This is a procedural appropriations bill that authorizes spending but does not create new policy or alter existing laws.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $2.4B from state general fund for capital projects including universities, directly funding state budget priorities per appropriations framework.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $2.4B for capital projects at public universities and community colleges, directly funding educational infrastructure and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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in committee · Michigan · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 4520: Higher education: other; program to designate certain college and university campuses as hunger-free campuses; create. Creates new act.

HB 4520, the "hunger-free campus act," creates a program to designate Michigan college and university campuses as "hunger-free" if they meet specific requirements. It directly affects all public and private institutions of higher education in Michigan, including tribal colleges, by requiring them to establish student-administration task forces, provide SNAP enrollment assistance, ensure access to food pantries or stigma-free food options, and hold hunger awareness events. The bill mandates annual student surveys on food insecurity and requires campuses to develop meal credit donation programs or free food vouchers. The program aims to address student hunger through concrete campus-level actions and partnerships, with the state department overseeing implementation and reporting.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates hunger-free campus program requiring food access support, directly enhancing student well-being and educational access in higher education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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