SB 790 redirects a portion of corporate income tax revenue to fund Michigan Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) programs. Beginning in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the bill requires $250,000 (or the amount needed to fully fund NASA-related student grants, fellowships, and internships) annually to be allocated to support MSGC. This directly benefits Michigan residents pursuing undergraduate or graduate opportunities in space-related fields through NASA programs. The funds are transferred to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for MSGC to administer, ensuring state support for student participation in federal space initiatives.
HB 5618 allocates $2.34 billion in state and federal funds for Michigan's public universities and higher education programs during fiscal year 2026-2027. It directs $1.48 billion from the state general fund and $850 million from other state restricted revenues to support operations at 13 public universities (including MSU, U-M, and Wayne State), with specific allocations for tuition waivers, retirement payments, and research programs. The bill also funds key initiatives like Michigan Achievement Scholarships ($300 million), the Martin Luther King Jr. program ($2.69 million), and student support services ($1.96 million). This funding directly affects public universities, students receiving financial aid, and state retirement systems through mandated budgetary allocations.
HB 5630 allocates funding for Michigan's public K-12 schools and community colleges for fiscal years 2026-2027. It provides $18.37 billion for K-12 schools from the state school aid fund, general fund, and other education trust funds, plus $493 million for community colleges across 12 institutions. The bill specifies exact funding amounts for each community college's operations and includes provisions for unused funds to transfer to a stabilization fund. This omnibus appropriations bill directly affects all public school districts and community colleges statewide by setting their state funding levels for the next two fiscal years.
HB 5480, known as the "Natalia Moore Law," allows parents to transfer children to another school district if the child experiences bullying at their current school. To qualify, parents must provide documented bullying incidents, proof of reporting to school staff, and evidence that prior interventions failed. The receiving district must accept the transfer and share academic records within 7 days, while the child’s original district cannot charge tuition for such transfers under the amended school code. This law directly affects students experiencing bullying and their families seeking safer school environments.
HB 5362 is a supplemental budget bill that allocates additional state funds to the University of Michigan for its operations during the 2024-2025 fiscal year. It modifies existing state appropriations by designating specific supplemental funding for the University of Michigan, without creating new programs or altering the university's structure. This bill directly affects the University of Michigan's budget, providing it with additional resources from the state's general fund for the upcoming fiscal year. The bill is procedural in nature, focusing solely on the allocation of existing state funds rather than establishing new policies.
HB 5312 amends Michigan's School Code to set new tuition limits for nonresident students attending public schools. It limits K-6 tuition to 25% above the district's average daily operation cost per student (excluding building costs), and grades 7-12 tuition to 12.5% above 115% of that same cost. The bill requires districts to use the previous fiscal year's operation costs and membership data for calculations. It also specifies that these rules expire after July 1, 2026, when schools must follow different rules under another law, and notes the bill only takes effect if two companion bills (HB 5310 and HB 5311) also pass. This directly affects school districts setting tuition rates and nonresident families paying those rates.
SB 233 lowers the age requirement for Michigan's Reconnect program from 25 to 21 years old. This change expands eligibility for last-dollar financial aid (covering remaining tuition costs after other aid) to adults aged 21 and older pursuing associate degrees or industry-recognized credentials. The bill amends Section 1 of the Michigan Reconnect Grant Act (2020 PA 84) to align with the program's goal of increasing the state's college degree and credential attainment rate for residents aged 25-64. It directly affects adult learners seeking postsecondary education who previously did not qualify due to age restrictions.
HB 4123 amends Michigan's Reconnect Grant Act to expand support for adult learners pursuing industry-recognized credentials. It requires eligible community colleges and career-training programs to implement corequisite academic support (taking college-level courses while receiving targeted help) instead of traditional remedial classes, and to report on student success strategies like credit for prior learning. The bill directly affects adult students enrolled in these programs and institutions receiving Reconnect Grants, including career-tech centers and apprenticeships offering stackable credentials. Key changes include expanding grant funding eligibility to cover non-degree certificate programs and mandating institutions to provide free academic support for students needing remediation. If passed, these changes would reshape how Michigan's community colleges and career programs support adult learners seeking job-ready skills.
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.
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.
