Higher education: financial aid; Michigan achievement skills scholarship; provide for. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4955'25

HB 4956 creates the "Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship" to provide tuition assistance for Michigan residents enrolled in qualifying career training programs. It directly affects recent high school graduates (or high school equivalency holders from 2023 onward) pursuing first-time enrollment in approved occupational training programs requiring at least 150 hours over 8 weeks, such as maritime trades. The program covers full tuition for up to two academic years, administered by the Department of Lifelong Education, with institutions needing department approval and annual reporting on scholarship recipients. Recipients must not have prior associate/bachelor’s degrees or used similar scholarships before.