This bill modifies the Student Mental Health Apprenticeship Retention and Training (SMART) grant program to provide financial support for graduate students completing mental health internships in Michigan public schools. It allows eligible graduate students to receive up to $15,000 for a 30-week internship, with payments structured as either an hourly rate or a lump sum, provided they work in schools designated as critical shortage areas or those with high populations of economically disadvantaged students. In exchange for this funding, recipients must agree to work at a public school for at least three years after completing their internship. The program also includes provisions for funding field supervisors and instructors who oversee the interns.
This bill establishes an interstate agreement allowing school psychologists to practice in multiple states with a single license, aiming to improve access to mental health services in schools. Under the new rules, qualified professionals from one member state can obtain equivalent licensure in other states without facing redundant requirements, while still adhering to local safety and scope-of-practice laws. The legislation also creates a governing commission to oversee the program and includes specific provisions to support military members and their spouses who relocate frequently. By streamlining the licensing process, the bill seeks to address workforce shortages and ensure that students receive services from appropriately qualified experts across state lines.
This bill requires Michigan school districts to appoint independent decision makers to conduct disciplinary hearings for students facing suspension of more than 10 days, expulsion, or alternative placement for more than 10 days. These independent decision makers must remain neutral by not investigating the incident, providing testimony, or presenting evidence, and they must apply a preponderance of the evidence standard when making decisions. The bill also grants students the right to be represented by an attorney or advocate at these hearings and mandates that schools provide written reports explaining the findings and appeal rights to students and their parents. Additionally, the legislation ensures that students with Individualized Education Programs are invited to meet with their IEP team before any disciplinary decision is implemented.
SB 785 amends Michigan's school aid law to allocate $200 million from the state school aid fund and $1.6 million from the general fund for the 2025-2026 school year to support free breakfast and lunch programs. It requires participating public and nonpublic schools (serving pre-K through 12th grade) to provide meals at no cost to all students, maximize federal reimbursement through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), and implement policies to determine student eligibility. The bill covers the gap between federal meal reimbursement rates and actual costs, including additional funding for the Great Start Readiness Program. Schools must also offer dietary accommodations (like gluten-free meals) and prioritize Michigan-sourced food where practical.
SB 784 creates a statewide program providing free breakfast and lunch to all public school students in grades pre-K through 12, plus students up to age 26 enrolled in special education programs (including the Michigan School for the Deaf). Participating schools must join the federal National School Lunch Program, offer meals at no cost to all students, maximize federal reimbursement through the Community Eligibility Provision, and forgive any outstanding meal debt. The bill also requires schools to accommodate documented dietary needs due to disabilities and encourages policies to help families complete income forms for eligibility. This policy changes existing meal programs by making them universal for eligible students without requiring individual income verification.
HB 5431 allocates supplemental funding for Michigan public schools, primarily targeting districts affected by drinking water emergencies. It provides $10 million from the state school aid fund and $4.8 million from the general fund (2025-2026) for districts with at least 4,500 students (or 2,600+ post-2016) in cities with declared water emergencies, to hire staff like nurses and mental health workers and provide related services. The bill also allocates $12.5 million for educator talent programs through intermediate districts. All funds require reporting on service usage and must be expended by 2030.
HB 4227 requires every intermediate school district in Michigan to hire at least one emergency and safety manager and one mental health coordinator. The emergency manager coordinates with state and local agencies to prevent safety incidents, conduct risk assessments, and handle safety concerns across schools. The mental health coordinator manages state funding for student mental health services, integrates community resources, and oversees programs like Medicaid billing and behavioral health support. These roles aim to strengthen safety planning and mental health access for all public and nonpublic schools within each district's boundaries.
HB 4870 creates a state program to provide free breakfast and lunch to all public school students in grades pre-K through 12, as well as students up to age 26 in special education programs. Participating schools must already be in the federal National School Lunch Program and offer meals at no cost to every student, while maximizing federal funding through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). The bill requires schools to accommodate documented medical dietary needs on a case-by-case basis and encourages offering religiously appropriate meals that meet federal nutrition standards. It also mandates schools to simplify income forms for families to help determine eligibility for other federal benefits.
HB 5054 modifies Michigan's school code to clarify protections for school staff administering epinephrine auto-injectors during emergencies and to streamline student access to necessary medical devices. It ensures school employees (including non-nurses) aren’t liable for civil damages or criminal charges when administering epinephrine in good faith during life-threatening situations, except for gross negligence. The bill also allows students with asthma or severe allergies to possess and use prescribed inhalers or epinephrine devices at school, on transportation, or at school events, provided they have written medical approval and an emergency care plan on file. These changes directly affect school staff, students with medical conditions requiring epinephrine or inhalers, and school administrators managing health protocols.
SB 228 bans specific additives in school foods starting July 1, 2026, affecting all public and nonpublic schools in Michigan. It prohibits serving foods containing brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, titanium dioxide, and certain artificial dyes (Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 6). The law directly restricts what schools can provide to students through meals, snacks, or vending, targeting ingredients identified as potentially harmful. This is a substantive policy change focused on reducing exposure to specific additives in school food environments.
