Michigan House approves K‑12 budget and changes to school‑aid funding after heated debate

The Michigan House of Representatives on June 11 passed a package of education budget bills including House Bill 4576 (appropriations for the Department of Education) and House Bill 4577 (amendments to the State School Aid Act of 1979) after extended floor debate and close roll‑call votes.

Supporters said the package increases flexibility and directs money to priorities such as class size reduction and reading initiatives. Representative Kelly, sponsor of the Department of Education appropriations bill, told colleagues the House proposal reduces some administrative positions and urged a yes vote. “We reduced … and we cut $8,000,000,” Kelly said during debate.

Opponents said the package would divert large sums from K‑12 programs and eliminate guaranteed funding for items schools rely on, including universal free meals and categorical supports for rural and high‑need districts. Representative Weiss, speaking in opposition, said, “It diverts $2,000,000,000 away from K‑12 schools and eliminates guaranteed funding for things that schools in every county in this state rely on.” Representative Colazar, who described herself as a teacher, said the proposal would “eliminate free breakfast and lunch for kids” and remove dedicated school‑safety funding.

Members also debated proposed substitutes and earmarks for early childhood programs. Representative Mentzer, supporting a substitute for House Bill 4577 that would preserve the Great Start Readiness Program, said the program serves 470 Michigan school districts and “more than 338,000 preschoolers,” and said his substitute would invest $625,000,000 in that program. Representative Miller emphasized nutrition, calling free breakfast and lunch a “lifeline” for many students and urging colleagues to protect those benefits.

The House adopted committee substitutes and then advanced the bills to final passage. House Bill 4576 passed on a roll call of 56 yeas and 53 nays. House Bill 4577 passed by the same margin, 56‑53. Members then voted to give immediate effect to the measures. House Bill 4578, an appropriations bill for the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, also passed (56‑53) and was ordered given immediate effect.

The debate highlighted a policy split over how to structure state education funding: supporters framed the package as restoring local control and targeting classroom outcomes, while opponents characterized it as a large disinvestment that would shift costs to local districts and families. Several speakers urged colleagues to consult local school leaders; Representative Kofia read a superintendent’s statement from a rural district warning the budget “destroys decades of work for schools like ours.”

The chamber recorded votes and then moved on to other business; the House adjourned to reconvene June 12, 2025, at noon.

Less critical details: the House appropriations committee had recommended substitutes for the bills before floor consideration; motions to adopt those substitutes were agreed to on the floor. The bills reference the State School Aid Act of 1979 and several committee substitutes (for example, substitute H‑2 and H‑3) that adjusted funding distributions and program language for the upcoming fiscal year.