Education (Higher Education)

in committee · Michigan · Senate Mar 20, 2025

SB 197: Higher education: tuition; Michigan tuition grant program; modify. Amends secs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 7a of 1966 PA 313 (MCL 390.991 et seq.).

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationModifies tuition grant program to maintain funding for eligible students, adjusts eligibility rules without defunding, aligns with financial aid support for higher education access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Michigan · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 4520: Higher education: other; program to designate certain college and university campuses as hunger-free campuses; create. Creates new act.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates hunger-free campus program requiring food access support, directly enhancing student well-being and educational access in higher education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Michigan · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 4521: Higher education: tuition; Michigan tuition grant program; modify. Amends secs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 7a of 1966 PA 313 (MCL 390.991 et seq.).

HB 4521 modifies Michigan's tuition grant program for resident students at eligible nonprofit colleges. It sets limits: 10 semesters for undergraduate study (12 for 2020-2021 enrollees), 6 for graduate, and 8 for dental programs. The bill excludes students receiving Michigan Achievement Scholarships and those in theology programs, while requiring financial need assessment using criteria from another state aid program. Grants cover tuition/fees up to the college's annual cost or the student's financial need, whichever is lower, and prioritize full-time students.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesModifies tuition grant program with eligibility caps and exclusions, reducing state spending on higher education aid while restricting program scope.85% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill imposes semester limits (10 semesters max) and excludes specific student groups (theology, Achievement Scholars) from tuition grants, restricting access to higher education financial aid.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Testing & Assessment

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passed both · Michigan · House May 13, 2025

HB 4239: Higher education: other; foreign influence of state institutions of higher education; prohibit. Creates new act.

HB 4239, the "foreign influence of state institutions of higher education act," prohibits Michigan public colleges and universities from entering agreements or accepting grants from specific "foreign countries of concern" (including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, and Syria) if those arrangements control curriculum, threaten U.S. security, or restrict contracting freedom. It requires all gifts from foreign sources to be formalized through written agreements and mandates reporting of certain gifts to state officials. The law also bars accepting items of value conditioned on promoting a foreign country's language or culture and requires cultural exchange agreements with listed countries to be reviewed by U.S. federal agencies for national security risks. These provisions directly affect all 15 Michigan public universities and community colleges.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill prohibits foreign influence on higher education curriculum, protecting academic integrity and security, thus supporting education.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Jun 17, 2025

SB 425: Higher education: community colleges; remission of new jobs credit from withholding to community college districts; clarify application to professional employer organizations. Amends secs. 161 & 163 of 1966 PA 331 (MCL 389.161 & 389.163). TIE BAR WITH: SB 426'25

SB 425 redirects payroll withholdings from employers toward community college job training programs. It clarifies that professional employer organizations (PEOs) can participate in the program, requiring employers to pay new job withholdings directly to community colleges (instead of the state) to fund training. The bill defines a "new job" as one paying at least the local living wage standard (ALICE rate), not replacing existing roles, and creating net new employment. This affects employers (including PEOs), community colleges, and workers in qualifying new positions, with funds used for training programs and bond financing.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects payroll withholdings to fund community college job training programs, directly allocating existing tax revenue to public education services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRedirects employer payroll withholdings to fund community college job training programs, increasing direct funding for higher education workforce development.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRedirects payroll withholdings to community college job training programs, requires new jobs pay ALICE living wage, and defines 'new job' to create net employment opportunities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Minimum Wage Workforce Development

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failed · Michigan · Senate Mar 20, 2025

SB 56: School aid: supplemental; school aid supplemental; provide for. Amends secs. 11 & 236 of 1979 PA 94 (MCL 388.1611 & 388.1836) & adds sec. 201i.

SB 56 adds specific funding allocations to Michigan's School Aid Act for fiscal years 2024-2025. It appropriates $100 from the state school aid fund for public schools, $3.3 million from coronavirus recovery funds for community college academic catch-up programs (for fiscal year 2023-2024 only), and $100 from the general fund for higher education purposes. These provisions directly affect public schools, community colleges, and higher education institutions by providing targeted funding for educational programs. The bill also updates constitutional spending estimates for school aid and higher education funding totals for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $100 from state school aid fund and $3.3M from recovery funds for education, directly increasing budget allocations to public schools and colleges.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $100 for public schools, $3.3M for community college programs, and $100 for higher education, directly increasing funding for educational institutions per bill's summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Funding Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Michigan · House Mar 25, 2025

HJR H: Higher education: other; use of school aid funds for the operations of public universities; prohibit. Amends sec. 4, art. VIII & sec. 11, art. IX of the state constitution.

This bill amends Michigan's state constitution to prohibit using the state school aid fund for the day-to-day operating costs of public universities. It updates the list of designated public universities (including the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University) and explicitly bans the fund from covering expenses like staff salaries or facility maintenance. The state school aid fund, previously designated for schools, higher education, and retirement systems, would no longer support university operations under this change. This directly affects all public universities that may have relied on this funding stream for operational budgets.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRestricts school aid fund usage for university operations, defunding day-to-day costs like salaries and maintenance per constitutional amendment.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill explicitly prohibits using school aid funds for public university operations, defunding higher education by restricting a key funding source for day-to-day costs like salaries and maintenance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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passed · Michigan · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 167: Appropriations: higher education; appropriations for fiscal year 2025-2026; provide for. Amends secs. 236 & 241 of 1979 PA 94 (MCL 388.1836 & 388.1841).

SB 167 allocates approximately $2.41 billion in state funds to Michigan's public universities for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill specifies exact funding amounts for each institution, including base operations, operational increases, and costs related to the North American Indian tuition waiver program. It details funding sources, with the majority coming from the state general fund. This appropriation directly affects all public universities in Michigan by setting their state funding levels for the upcoming year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $2.41B state funds to public universities for 2025-2026, directly increasing higher education appropriations from state general fund.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $2.41B in state funds to Michigan public universities for 2025-26, specifying institutional funding levels and operational increases, directly advancing higher education funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Higher Education

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passed · Michigan · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 168: Appropriations: community colleges; appropriations for fiscal year 2025-2026; provide for. Amends secs. 201 & 206 of 1979 PA 94 (MCL 388.1801 & 388.1806).

SB 168 allocates state funding for Michigan's 29 community colleges for fiscal year 2025-2026 under the State School Aid Act. It provides a total of $506,504,600, broken down into specific amounts for each college's operations, performance-based funding, and costs related to the North American Indian tuition waiver program. The bill directly affects all Michigan community colleges by determining their state budget allocations for the upcoming fiscal year. This is a funding bill with no new policy provisions beyond budgetary adjustments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $506M for community college operations and performance-based funding under State School Aid Act, directly supporting public education budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $506M in state funding for Michigan community colleges' operations and programs under State School Aid Act, directly supporting higher education infrastructure and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Higher Education

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in committee · Michigan · House Jul 24, 2025

HR 144: A resolution to urge the United States Congress to ensure continued funding for the Federal TRIO programs.

This resolution urges Congress to maintain funding for the Federal TRIO programs, which support low-income, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities. It highlights that TRIO provides academic tutoring, counseling, financial guidance, and other assistance through eight specific programs (like Upward Bound for high school students and the McNair Program for doctoral preparation). The resolution responds to a proposed budget cut that would eliminate all TRIO funding, potentially affecting over 880,000 participants annually, including 6,000 veterans. The measure has been introduced and referred to committee but does not create new law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesUrges continued funding for TRIO programs, opposing proposed defunding of essential student support services that provide academic and financial assistance.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly urges continued funding for TRIO programs that support low-income, first-gen students and disabilities, directly advancing educational access and funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

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