LARA seeks $2.7 million for faster nursing‑home investigations, plus staffing for homes‑for‑the‑aged oversight

At a House appropriations subcommittee presentation, Marlon Brown, director of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), outlined the department’s fiscal year 2026 budget recommendation and asked lawmakers for additional staff and operating dollars to speed investigations and inspections in long‑term care.

"Our mission at LARA is to protect people and to promote business in Michigan through transparent and accessible regulatory solutions," Brown said, summarizing the department’s priorities and its FY2026 funding request. Dan Horn, LARA’s director of finance and administrative services, gave the subcommittee the financial details.

LARA’s FY2026 recommended gross budget is $650,600,000, Horn told the committee. He said 43% of that total supports state grant programs administered by LARA to local units of government and that roughly $301,500,000 (about 46% of the department total) is supported by general‑purpose general fund dollars. Horn added that most day‑to‑day departmental operations are paid from state restricted funds and user fees.

The department requested a set of targeted increases for oversight of vulnerable residents. Horn said the package includes…