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House approves amendment to State School Aid Act (HB 4162) amid opposition citing $5 billion cuts
Summary
The Michigan House passed HB 4162, an amendment to the State School Aid Act of 1979, by a recorded vote of 59-49. Opponents said the bill would cut about $5 billion from school funding and eliminate several education programs; sponsors described the measure as a stopgap to prevent a shutdown and to increase the student foundation allotment.
The Michigan House of Representatives passed House Bill 4162, a bill "to amend the State School Aid Act of 1979," by a recorded vote of 59-49. The House adopted a floor substitute (H-2) before advancing the bill to third reading and final passage; the majority then moved and the House ordered immediate effect.
Representative Weiss spoke in strong opposition on the floor, saying, "this bill that we are about to vote on right now is a 25% reduction to school funding in the state of Michigan. This bill defunds higher education in the state of Michigan. This bill removes all funding for the next budget for 2026 for at risk, for school transportation, for school meals, for isolated districts, for English language learners. It is a 5,000,000,000 with a b dollar reduction to school funding here in the state of Michigan." Representative Glanville followed, opposing the bill and saying the measure "also cuts CTE funding." Both speakers urged a no vote.
Representative Bolin (the bill sponsor on the floor) defended the measure as a temporary, shutdown-prevention plan that he characterized as increasing the student foundation allotment and keeping essential services funded while books are closed for the fiscal period. He said the bill is intended to "keep the essentials and also to move towards the close of books. Our responsibility as a legislature is to produce a budget for the fiscal year." The transcript does not include the bill text or a line-by-line accounting of items that opponents named as cut; the floor statements reflect each side's summary of the bill.
A recorded roll-call vote followed; the clerk announced 59 aye votes and 49 nay votes. The majority floor leader then moved for immediate effect and the House ordered immediate effect.
