This bill creates a new tax credit for Michigan employers who pay student loans for employees who did not graduate from an in-state high school or earn a degree from an in-state college. To qualify, the employee must have moved to Michigan to work for the employer after obtaining a bachelor's degree or higher from an out-of-state institution, and the employer can claim a credit equal to 25% of the loan payments made, up to a limit of 20% of the average yearly tuition at a public Michigan university. Employers must submit specific documentation to the state department to prove the payments and employee details, and any unused portion of the credit can be refunded to the employer. This measure is part of a larger package of related bills aimed at encouraging companies to hire graduates from outside the state.
This bill allows Michigan school districts and academies to hire non-certified teachers for specific subjects like computer science, engineering, and career and technical education. To qualify, these teachers must hold a bachelor's degree in their field of study, possess relevant professional experience, and pass any required subject exams. The law prioritizes hiring certified teachers but permits the use of non-certified staff if a certified candidate is unavailable or if the teacher is actively pursuing certification. Additionally, the bill extends the maximum employment period for non-certified career and technical education instructors to 10 years with approval, and it offers a pathway to waive student teaching requirements for those who complete three years of successful classroom work.
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 modifies Michigan's state school aid requirements by allowing students to use the Classic Learning Test (CLT) as an option for the college entrance portion of the Michigan merit examination. Under the new provisions, districts must still administer a comprehensive exam that includes college entrance assessments, a workforce readiness test, and a social studies component, but students may now choose the CLT to satisfy the college entrance requirement. The legislation also establishes a waiver process for the workforce readiness test, permitting parents to opt their children out by submitting a signed form to their school district by February 28. Additionally, the bill mandates that all scaled scores from the exam be recorded on high school transcripts alongside attendance records.
This bill creates a specific exception to governmental immunity in Michigan, allowing public universities, colleges, and school districts to be sued for criminal sexual conduct committed by their employees. Under the new provisions, an institution can be held liable if it was negligent in hiring, supervising, or training the employee, or if it knew or should have known about the misconduct and failed to report it to law enforcement. Additionally, liability may arise if the school district had prior knowledge of the employee's history of sexual misconduct and did not intervene to prevent further acts. The law clarifies that a criminal conviction is not required for a lawsuit to proceed, ensuring that victims can seek civil remedies even if the perpetrator avoids criminal charges.
This bill allows Michigan employers to claim a tax credit equal to 50% of student loan payments they make on behalf of employees who graduated from in-state schools and work for the company. The credit is limited to 20% of the average yearly tuition at a public university in the state for each employee per year. To receive the benefit, employers must submit detailed proof of payments and employee information to the state tax department. The bill also requires that any unused portion of the credit be refunded to the employer rather than carried forward. It is part of a package of related bills that must all pass together to take effect.
SB 1059 amends Michigan's Child Protection Law to clarify and prioritize reporting procedures for suspected child abuse or neglect. The bill specifically requires school staff, including administrators, counselors, and teachers, to make immediate reports to centralized intake and mandates that their written reports be placed on a priority list for investigation. Additionally, the legislation ensures that school employees are not penalized or dismissed for making these reports and must notify their school's leadership while still fulfilling their duty to report to the state department. The bill also outlines specific conditions under which the department must share investigation results with law enforcement agencies, particularly in cases involving methamphetamine violations or crimes committed by individuals such as clergy or youth program staff.
This bill requires public schools in Michigan to provide daily recess for all students in grades K through 5, with optional recess for older students. It mandates that recess consist of at least 40 minutes per day for schools with five-hour schedules or a proportional amount for shorter days, and it must be unstructured outdoor play that excludes computers, tablets, and other electronic devices. The law clarifies that passing time to or from buses, dressing time, and physical education classes do not count as recess, while also prohibiting the withholding of recess for disciplinary reasons except in cases of immediate safety threats.
This bill requires private employers and educational institutions in Michigan to include "multiracial" as an option when collecting racial or ethnic data from individuals. It also mandates that these organizations remove the "other" classification from such forms. If a federal agency rejects the "multiracial" category, the bill instructs employers and schools to redistribute those responses among approved racial categories based on population ratios. Public bodies and state universities are explicitly exempt from these new requirements.
This Senate resolution designates May 8, 2026, as Child Care Provider Appreciation Day to honor the work of early childhood educators and caregivers in Michigan. The measure does not alter laws or budgets but serves as a symbolic gesture to recognize the essential role these providers play in child development and family stability. By encouraging public acknowledgment, the bill aims to highlight the dedication of staff working in centers, homes, and in-home programs across the state.
