House committee advances four-bill school safety package, including statewide training requirement

The Michigan House Education and Workforce Committee on April 16 moved four bills forward that its members said are part of a broader school safety package, unanimously reporting two bills with recommendation and adopting h-1 substitutes for two others.

Committee members said the package aims to set a statewide baseline for school safety planning and training. Vice Chair Linting described one substitute as requiring the Michigan State Police and the Office of School Safety to coordinate with the Michigan Department of Education and the attorney general’s office “to provide 3 tiers of training for school personnel, for school resource officers, for school crisis team members, and for all the school personnel who have regular contact with students.”

The package includes multiple separate bills the committee has reviewed this session. Committee members and sponsors said the intent is to ensure consistent training and planning across districts while allowing local school districts and law enforcement to expand beyond the baseline.

The committee recorded roll-call votes at the meeting. The clerk announced a 10‑0 vote to report House Bill 42‑25 with recommendation and a 10‑0 vote to report House Bill 42‑29 (substitute H‑1) with recommendation. The committee then adopted H‑1 substitutes for House Bill 42‑23 and House Bill 43‑15; the clerk announced each motion prevailed by voice with a 10‑0 count when called.

Representative Harris, who spoke at the testimony table, told the committee that one bill in the package would require schools "to develop and implement a school safety and training plan beginning in the 2026‑27 school year." He said the sponsor group sought statewide continuity so staff and officers moving between districts see similar expectations and training.

Sponsors and witnesses described three tiers of training the substitute would direct MSP and partner agencies to create: a tier for school resource officers; a tier for school crisis team members; and a tier for all school personnel who have regular contact with students. Sponsors said the Michigan State Police and the Office of School Safety would serve as a central “one‑stop shop” resource where districts and local departments could find the training materials.

Committee members asked about funding and implementation details. Representative Harris said the committee and sponsors would continue to refine language and discussed the possibility of follow‑up bills or funding provisions to support required training at the local level. A written card from Jennifer Smith of the Michigan Association of School Boards in the meeting record indicated support for one bill in the package.

What happens next: The committee reported the bills and adopted substitutes; the measures will proceed through the committee process toward floor consideration if sponsors and the House leadership schedule them for further action.

Votes at a glance - Motion to report House Bill 42‑25 with recommendation: mover Vice Chair Linting; clerk announced 10 yeas, 0 nays, 0 pass; outcome: reported with recommendation. - Motion to report House Bill 42‑29 as substitute H‑1 with recommendation: mover Vice Chair Linting; clerk announced 10 yeas, 0 nays, 0 pass; outcome: reported with recommendation. - Motion to adopt H‑1 substitute for House Bill 42‑23: mover Vice Chair Linting; clerk announced 10 yeas, 0 nays, 0 pass; outcome: substitute adopted. - Motion to adopt H‑1 substitute for House Bill 43‑15: mover Vice Chair Linting; clerk announced 10 yeas, 0 nays, 0 pass; outcome: substitute adopted.

The committee’s actions put an emphasis on a statewide baseline for training while leaving room for districts and local departments to expand or customize training to local needs.