Summary

In case you missed it, Dr. Tina Kerr sent an email to MASA members on Thursday morning announcing the Michigan Court of Claims’ approval of a final settlement agreement in our long-standing lawsuit against the Office of Retirement Services (ORS). We are actively working with our legal team and partners to thoroughly review the order and determine the next steps with ORS. We will continue to keep you updated as more details are confirmed.

Additionally, the Michigan Department of Education recently released two important updates: Memo 2025-031, which reaffirms compliance with Title VI and defends ongoing DEI efforts, and the retirement announcement of State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice, effective October 3.

On the Legislative front, several school safety bills advanced through the House Education and Workforce Committee this week, and the Senate Appropriations Committee heard testimony on the House-proposed road funding package. More details are included below.

As always, please contact MASA with any questions or concerns.

House Committee Round-Up

The House Education and Workforce Committee advanced several school safety bills to the House floor on Wednesday, including:

• HB 4222 (Schmatlz) Modifies procedures for school emergency operations plans (Vote: 6-0-5, with substitute)
  • Adopted substitute gives more flexibility in staffing and adds references to nonpublic schools
• HB 4226 (Linting) Modifies the number of school fire and security drills (Vote: 6-1-4, with substitute)
  • Adopted substitute better defines “lockdown drills” and includes new drill timing requirement, between class periods
• HB 4227 (Fairbairn) Requires ISDs to employ one emergency and safety manager and at least one mental health coordinator (Vote: 6-2-3, with substitute)
  • Adopted substitute changes the word “employ” to "designate," leaving room for assigning the role to an existing staff member and appropriates funding for the requirement but is contingent on funding being available
• HB 4258 (Rigas) Requires the Department of State Police to provide notification of certain school safety-related tips (Vote: 9-0-2, with substitute)
  • Adopted substitute clarifies language between “main office line” and “designated line;” adds flexibility by requiring notification as soon as possible within 24 hours; clarifies that tips must be linked to a specific school or location; and permits after-hours contact through a designated phone line
• HB 4259 (Steckloff) Modifies definitions in the Student Safety Act (Vote: 9-0-2)

We anticipate the House will consider these bills soon and more school safety bills are likely to be reported to the House floor in the coming weeks.

Additionally, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on School Aid and MDE convened this week to hear testimony on shared time, alternative education, and pupil accounting from Dr. Rebekah Redmer, Lisa Sitkins, and Mitch Cummings, representing the Michigan Personalized Learning Task Force.

House-Approved Education Bills Head to Senate

The House passed several education-related bills prior to Spring Break, which were transmitted to the Senate this week for further consideration, including:

• HB 4147 (Steele) Allows use of funding for consolidation of administrative and service functions. (Vote: 97-8)
• HB 4149 (Kuhn) Requires certain information be posted on the websites of school districts, intermediate school districts, and public school academies (Vote: 86-19)
• HB 4154 (BeGole) Includes career and technical and trade schools in the postsecondary enrollment options act (Vote: 92-13)

Road Funding Package Reviewed by Senate Committee

The Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Sen. Sarah Anthony (D), heard testimony this week on House Bills 4180-4187 – an eight-bill package aimed at finding long-term funding solutions for Michigan's roads. The bills, which were first approved by the House in mid-March, include:

• HB 4180 (Steele) Exempts sales of motor and aviation fuel from sales tax
• HB 4181 (Frisbie) Excludes tax on motor fuel
• HB 4182 (Slagh) Exempts sales of motor and aviation fuel from use tax
• HB 4183 (Kunse) Increases motor fuel tax
• HB 4184 (Thompson) Increases excise tax on aviation fuel and modifies its distribution
• HB 4185 (Linting) Modifies the distribution of sales tax revenue
• HB 4186 (Carra) Increases the Michigan business tax rate and allows certain taxpayers to file under the corporate income tax act
• HB 4187 (Outman) Modifies the distribution of corporate income tax revenue

Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee raised concerns that the House Republicans’ proposed budget cuts to fund road improvements could put essential services at risk. Analysts from the Citizens Research Council echoed these concerns, testifying that the plan could lead to a projected $2 billion shortfall in the state’s general fund. Republicans countered that the state budget has grown significantly and could be scaled back by reprioritizing spending without cutting core services. Democrats have framed the proposal as a possible starting point but are calling for more collaborative and inclusive discussions as the process moves forward.

DEI Certification Update: MDE Memo and Legal Agreement

Last week, the Michigan Department of Education issued Memo 2025-031 in response to the April 3 DOE communication, stating that “Michigan had previously certified compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its implementing regulations.” The memo also noted that “many efforts to promote programs that support diversity and inclusion seek to expand opportunities, not limit them, and therefore do not discriminate.” MDE's response also highlighted that certain programs falling under the DEI umbrella are federally mandated.

Additionally, the ACLU announced an agreement in ongoing litigation to prohibit the DOE from taking any action related to the DEI certification requirement or the earlier February 14 Dear Colleague Letter until at least April 24. Under the agreement, no entities will face investigations or penalties for failing to return the certification and are not required to submit it at this time. The underlying litigation remains ongoing.

State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice Announces Retirement

Dr. Michael F. Rice, Michigan’s 44th Superintendent of Public Instruction, recently announced his retirement, effective October 3, 2025. Appointed in 2019, Dr. Rice brought nearly two decades of district leadership experience to MDE – serving 12 years in Kalamazoo and five years in Clifton, New Jersey. Throughout his tenure at the Department, he has worked with the State Board of Education to update and advance Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan, establishing measurable goals aimed at improving student outcomes, strengthen public education, and advocate for the needs of students and educators across the state. We thank Dr. Rice for his years of service on behalf of Michigan’s 1.4 million public school children and wish him all the best in his retirement.

This Week's Introduced Bills

SB 204 (Chang) Requires policy and procedures regarding closure of a school building

SB 206 (Bellino) Requires instruction in organ and tissue donation

SB 211 (Bellino) Creates purple star school program

HB 4315 (Pavlov) Requires the Department of State Police and the Office of School Safety to provide school safety and security training to certain school personnel

SB 212 (Damoose) Provides exception to minimum days of pupil instruction requirement for district closure during a declared state of emergency

SB 228 (Lindsey) Prohibits certain substances served in school foods

HB 4330 (Wortz) Allows enrollment in a core subject at a public school without being required to take the remaining core subjects

HB 4345 (Cavitt) Provides exception to minimum days of pupil instruction requirement for district closure during a declared state of emergency