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House adopts resolution urging Senate to recall FY2026 budget bills, citing $1 billion overspend
Summary
The Michigan House adopted House Resolution 113 urging the Senate to recall a set of FY2026 appropriation bills, saying the Senate's budget overspends by about $1 billion and underfunds Medicaid by $500 million; the resolution passed on a 58-48 roll call.
Lansing ' The Michigan House on Wednesday adopted House Resolution 113 urging the state Senate to request the return of a package of Senate appropriation bills for fiscal year 2026, saying the bills exceed projected revenue and underfund key programs.
The chamber voted 58-48 to adopt the resolution after more than an hour of debate over the budget numbers and process.
The resolution matters because House members said the Senate-passed budget would exceed the consensus revenue estimate by about $1,000,000,000 and would reduce Medicaid funding by about $500,000,000, a change the House argued could endanger coverage for roughly 60,000 Michigan residents.
Representative Maddock introduced House Resolution 113 urging the Senate to return Senate Bills 163, 164, 165, 167, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180 and 181. Representative Beierlein, speaking in favor, said the move was consistent with the state constitution's requirement for a balanced budget.
"We are not here today to debate partisan politics," Representative Beierlein said. "We are here because our constitution demands something simple, A balanced budget. Article 4, section 31 of the Michigan Constitution requires it." (Representative Beierlein)
Beierlein cited a nonpartisan analysis from the Senate Fiscal Agency and the consensus revenue estimating conference as the basis for the claim that the Senate budget overspends projected revenues by about $1 billion. He also said the Senate plan underfunds Medicaid by $500 million and cuts $30 million from child-care funding, a reduction he said could affect about 2,500 working families.
Opponents said the resolution improperly conflated process and policy and criticized previous House actions. Representative Weiss, speaking against the resolution, acknowledged that Medicaid funding is important but disputed lines of attack on colleagues' motives. Representative Regas also spoke against the resolution, saying the Senate budget would harm working-class families.
The House's adoption of the resolution does not change law; it formally requests the Senate to recall its set of appropriation bills so the Senate can revise them. The resolution is a legislative request and carries no direct funding effect until and unless the Senate returns and the two chambers negotiate changes.
The roll call tally was announced after members requested a recorded vote: 58 in favor, 48 opposed. A majority of members present voted to adopt the resolution.
The Senate has not yet replied to the House request. The House scheduled no formal change in appropriations by this action; further negotiation between the chambers and the executive branch would be required to alter the fiscal 2026 budget.
