November 8th-19th, 2025

Revenue collections from major taxes and lottery were slightly higher than expected for October, according to a recent revenue report released by the Senate Fiscal Agency (SFA). Compared to October last year, revenue totals reached $4.3 billion and are up nearly 6%. Revenue from the State Education Tax (SET), individual income tax (IIT) withholding, and use tax all contributed to the high outcomes. Net income tax revenue also experienced a near 15% increase from October last year. However, net revenue from sales tax, the repealed Single Business Tax, Michigan Business Tax, and Corporate Income Tax (CIT) collections were all below the forecasted amounts by $92.5 million.

Collections for the General Fund came in $22.7 million under expectations. However, the School Aid Fund saw better performance with collections $52.8 million above anticipated figures. For the Fiscal YTD revenue, the General Fund is down $289.7 million from projections and the School Aid Fund is up $129.4 million.

The Michigan Senate voted unanimously, 35-0, to pass earmark transparency bills SB 596 and HB 4420. The House and Senate equivalent bills would require all legislative earmarks to be submitted at least 45 days prior to being voted on. Earmarks are requested by legislators and are directed to an organization through grant funding in the state budget for a specific project.

House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) previously led the charge to set the period at 60 days after the Senate had passed the bill with a 10-day period prior to voting. In addition to the 45-day compromise, SB 596 also specifies that any earmark proposal done in the first year of a two year legislative session can be funded in both fiscal years. Earmarks proposed in the second year would still only apply to the final fiscal year of the budget cycle.

Both bills passed the House with a 101-0 vote before being presented to the governor. On November 18th, both bills were signed by Governor Whitmer with immediate effect.

The Michigan Energy giant DTE Gas Co. is asking state regulators to approve an increase in gas rates by 8% for residents and 7.1% for businesses. The company claims they need additional revenue to pay for infrastructure, maintenance expenses, and wage increases. DTE’s 1.3 million gas customers are expected to absorb an increase totaling $237 million starting next October. This amount could be reduced to $163 million if a previously approved infrastructure recovery mechanism surcharge is incorporated into the rates.

This is not the only increase that Michigan consumers have been subjected to in recent history. Last year, DTE raised gas rates by more than $113 million. Attorney General Dana Nessell scrutinized the increases and reaffirmed that her office will work to defend DTE customers. Bob Richard, President and COO of DTE, defended the rate hikes by arguing that the request will allow DTE to continue to invest in the safety and reliability of their energy system while keeping long term costs lower. In early November, DTE’s main competitor, Consumer Energy Co., also raised rates — 8% on residents and 1.4% on businesses.

See Also: AG NESSEL PUSHES BACK ON CONSUMERS ENERGY $436M RATE HIKE PROPOSAL

Recently, the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) refused to hear Kim Davis v. David Ermold, where Davis had hoped the Court would overturn a lower court’s decision awarding damages to a same sex couple that Davis refused to issue a marriage license to while working as a count clerk. Davis also requested that the Court overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court case that established marriage equality for same-sex couples.

Among those celebrating the decision was Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who is the state’s first openly LGBTQ+ individual elected to a statewide office. In a statement released shortly after the Court announced they would not be taking on the case, Nessel expressed relief but gave a warning: this is only a battle won, and to secure lasting victory against other efforts to overturn Obergefell, Michigan must change the state Constitution to protect marriage equality.