Rep. Donni Steele

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 4184 increases Michigan's excise tax on aviation fuel from 3.10 cents to 4.00 cents per gallon. It directly affects fuel sellers, airlines, and airport operators by changing how this tax revenue is distributed. The bill modifies Section 203 of the Aeronautics Code to require 35% of the tax revenue to fund the state aeronautics fund and 65% to fund qualified airports. It also retains the 1.5-cent refund for airlines operating interstate flights and the exemption for fuel used in leaded racing fuel production.

Maddy summaryHB 4186 increases Michigan's business income tax rate from 4.95% to 30% for all business activity occurring on or after January 1, 2025. This rate change directly affects businesses operating within Michigan that are subject to the state's business tax, including those previously filing under the corporate income tax act. The bill amends sections 201 and 500 of the Michigan Business Tax Act (2007 PA 36) to implement this rate increase and adjust the tax base calculations for businesses. The change represents a significant policy shift in how Michigan taxes business income, effective in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 4151 modifies Michigan's teacher certification rules, primarily allowing experienced educators from other states to obtain Michigan teaching licenses without retaking certain exams if they've taught successfully for at least three years in their home state. It maintains existing requirements for new teachers to complete reading competency training (including diagnosing reading disabilities) before advancing to professional certification. The bill also requires the education department to report annually on exam fees and develop standardized tests for teacher certification, while keeping the same reading proficiency standards for Michigan-certified teachers. These changes directly affect teachers seeking certification or additional endorsements in Michigan, especially those transferring from other states or countries.

Maddy summaryHR 40 is a non-binding resolution urging the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) to update its eligibility rules for female athletes to comply with Executive Order 14201. The resolution states that MHSAA’s current rules, which allow biological males to compete in women’s sports, conflict with the federal executive order prioritizing female-only competition. It argues this noncompliance risks jeopardizing federal funding for Michigan school districts and compromises the safety and fairness of women’s athletic competitions. The resolution was adopted by the Michigan House with 66 yeas, 43 nays, and 1 excused vote on March 12, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4198 requires all Michigan public and nonpublic schools to implement a mobile panic alert system by the 2025-2026 school year, using existing school safety funds. The system must enable real-time coordination between schools, law enforcement, and first responders during security emergencies (like active-shooter situations), integrating directly with 9-1-1 infrastructure for both mobile and landline activations. Schools already using a compliant system may seek exemption by petitioning the state, while noncompliance could result in loss of future school safety grants. The bill specifies technical requirements and mandates state procurement through competitive bidding with vendor certification standards.