Education (Higher Education)

in committee · Michigan · House Jan 30, 2025

HB 4036: Higher education: education programs; authorization and distance education reciprocal exchange act; remove sunset. Repeals sec. 7 of 2015 PA 45 (MCL 390.1697).

HB 4036 removes an expiration date (sunset provision) from Michigan's distance education reciprocal exchange program, which allows colleges and universities to share courses across state lines. The bill repeals Section 7 of the 2015 Higher Education Authorization and Distance Education Reciprocal Exchange Act (MCL 390.1697), making the program permanent. This directly affects Michigan colleges and out-of-state institutions participating in the reciprocal course-sharing agreement, ensuring the program continues without needing annual renewal.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves sunset provision for interstate distance education program, ensuring permanent course-sharing access across states, strengthening higher education collaboration and student access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Michigan · House Sep 11, 2025

HB 4849: Civil rights: speech and assembly; student free press act for public high schools and public community colleges and universities; create. Creates new act.

HB 4849, the "Student Free Press Act," protects student journalists in Michigan public high schools and state colleges/universities by treating school-sponsored media as a public forum for expression. It prohibits schools from censoring student journalism unless a regulation is strictly necessary to serve an important government interest and doesn’t target specific viewpoints. The bill also shields schools and advisors from liability for student publications and prevents retaliation against advisors who uphold these rights. It further guarantees students’ broader free speech rights on campus, including distributing materials and organizing demonstrations, while allowing limited, content-neutral time/place/manner restrictions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects student journalism in public schools/universities, enhancing academic freedom and expression per bill's prohibition of censorship and retaliation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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passed both · Michigan · House Jun 17, 2025

HB 4580: Appropriations: higher education; appropriations for fiscal year 2025-2026; provide for. Amend secs. 236 & 241 of 1979 PA 94 (MCL 388.1836 & 388.1841).

HB 4580 allocates funding for Michigan's public universities during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It amends specific sections of Michigan law (MCL 388.1836 and 388.1841) to establish the budget for higher education institutions. The bill directly affects public universities by providing their state funding for the upcoming fiscal year. It passed the House with strong support (56-41) and is now moving to the appropriations committee for further review.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funding for public universities, directly increasing higher education appropriations in the 2025-2026 budget.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates state funding for Michigan public universities in FY2025-2026, directly advancing higher education funding through legislative budget amendments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Higher Education

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passed both · Michigan · House Jun 17, 2025

HB 4579: Appropriations: community colleges; appropriations for fiscal year 2025-2026; provide for. Amends secs. 201 & 206 of 1979 PA 94 (MCL 388.1801 & 388.1806).

HB 4579 allocates state funding to Michigan community colleges for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It amends sections of existing law (MCL 388.1801 and 388.1806) to establish specific budget amounts for college operations. This directly affects all public community colleges in Michigan, which will use these funds for essential expenses like staff salaries, classroom resources, and facility maintenance during the 2025-2026 budget cycle.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funding to community colleges for 2025-2026 operations, directly supporting public education budget allocation through specific appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates state funding for Michigan community colleges' operations (staff, resources, maintenance) in FY2025-2026, directly advancing higher education funding and infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Higher Education

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in committee · Michigan · House Sep 17, 2025

HB 4955: Higher education: financial aid; Michigan achievement scholarship; provide for. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4956'25

HB 4955 creates the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, a new financial aid program for Michigan residents attending eligible community colleges, public universities, or private nonprofit institutions. It provides "last-dollar" scholarship assistance, covering tuition and fees not covered by other grants or scholarships (like federal Pell Grants), and includes a tuition-free community college pathway. To qualify, students must be Michigan residents, enroll full-time at an eligible school, meet income thresholds (student aid index of 30,000 or less), maintain academic progress, and apply for all available gift aid first. The program directly affects undergraduate students seeking affordable higher education in Michigan, aiming to reduce out-of-pocket costs for those with financial need.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates Michigan Achievement Scholarship providing last-dollar financial aid for higher education, expanding access and reducing tuition costs for students at eligible institutions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Michigan · House Sep 29, 2025

HB 5088: Higher education: other; use of school aid funds for community colleges and higher education expenses; limit. Creates appropriation act.

HB 5088 limits annual state funding for Michigan community colleges and higher education to $1.324 billion from the state school aid fund, starting in fiscal year 2026. This directly affects community colleges and public universities that receive state funding through the school aid program. The bill creates a hard cap on these appropriations, requiring that any amount exceeding the limit be covered by general fund money instead of the school aid fund. This policy change explicitly restricts how state education funds can be allocated, with no additional policy effects described in the bill text.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill imposes a hard cap ($1.324B) on state funding for community colleges/higher education via school aid fund, restricting annual appropriations and requiring excess costs from general fund.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationCaps state funding for community colleges/higher ed at $1.324B, requiring general fund coverage for excess, restricting school aid usage per bill's hard cap language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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passed · Michigan · Senate Sep 26, 2025

SB 383: Higher education: financial aid; Michigan achievement skills scholarship; provide for. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0382'25

The provided context does not include the specific text or policy details of SB 383. While the title mentions creating a "Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship" for higher education financial aid, no concrete provisions, eligibility criteria, funding mechanisms, or affected groups are described in the given information. Without the bill's full text or explanatory summary, a factual description of its mechanisms or direct impacts cannot be provided. Procedural details (like passage dates) are noted but do not describe the bill's policy content.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship for higher education financial aid, supporting student access and funding in higher education.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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passed · Michigan · Senate Sep 26, 2025

SB 382: Higher education: financial aid; Michigan achievement scholarship; provide for. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0383'25

SB 382 creates the Michigan Achievement Scholarship Act, providing last-dollar financial aid to Michigan residents attending eligible community colleges, public universities, or private nonprofit institutions. The scholarship covers remaining tuition and fees after other gift aid (like Pell Grants) is applied, based on a student's financial need (SAI of $30,000 or less). It directly affects low-to-moderate income students who meet eligibility criteria, including filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The program aims to make higher education more affordable by reducing out-of-pocket costs for qualifying students at participating Michigan institutions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates state-funded scholarship program, allocating budget for last-dollar aid to low-income students, directly increasing public education funding and aligning with fiscal support for essential services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates last-dollar financial aid scholarship covering tuition/fees after other aid, expanding access for low-to-moderate income students at eligible institutions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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passed both · Michigan · House Oct 30, 2025

HB 4125: Higher education: education programs; nuclear and hydrogen education grant program; create. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4127'25, HB 4129'25, HB 4126'25, HB 4128'25, HB 4124'25

HB 4125 creates the "nuclear and hydrogen education grant program" to fund colleges and universities in Michigan that establish or expand educational programs leading to degrees or credentials in nuclear or hydrogen energy fields. The program requires participating schools to offer scholarships or tax credits to students who commit to working for at least three years at a nuclear or hydrogen energy facility in the state after graduation. Grants are awarded competitively by the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, targeting programs that directly support workforce development for these industries. This bill directly affects postsecondary institutions, students in qualifying programs, and the nuclear/hydrogen energy sector by creating a pipeline for trained workers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new grant program funding nuclear/hydrogen education (budget expenditure) and requires tax credits for students (tax incentive), directly advancing state education funding and tax policy.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates grant program funding higher education programs in nuclear/hydrogen energy fields, directly advancing educational opportunities and workforce development in specified STEM areas.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyFunds nuclear/hydrogen education programs to develop workforce for these energy sectors, advancing clean energy infrastructure development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Pipeline Infrastructure

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in committee · Michigan · House Nov 12, 2025

HB 5242: Higher education: other; use of diversity, equity, and inclusion in accreditation decisions; prohibit. Creates new act.

HB 5242 prohibits accrediting agencies from considering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, programs, or practices when making accreditation decisions for Michigan's public and private colleges and universities. The bill directly affects higher education institutions, accrediting agencies, and their students and employees by requiring accreditation decisions to focus solely on academic standards. Key provisions ban agencies from reviewing DEI-related information, collecting such data, or requiring diversity statements, with enforcement through lawsuits by students, employees, or the Attorney General. Violations could result in triple damages, attorney fees, and up to $1,000 per affected student in penalties.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits DEI considerations in accreditation, restricting higher education institutions' ability to integrate diversity initiatives95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education

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