Updates About Legislature

Through a recent reshuffling of committee assignments announced by Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, several Democratic members have undergone changes in their committee responsibilities. Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton), serving as the chair of the House K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee, has been relieved from four committees — Elections, Joint Capital Outlay, Transportation, and the appropriations subcommittee of the Department of Health and Human Services. Simultaneously, he has been added to Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection. Other changes include Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) being removed from Elections, and Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) being promoted to Vice Chair in Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection.

Following these changes, Senate Majority Floor Leader Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) was removed from the General Government Appropriations Subcommittee and the Department of Education Appropriations Subcommittee. Sen. John Cherry (D-Flint) was removed from Economic and Community Development. Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) was removed from the Appropriations Subcommittee on Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the Higher Education Subcommittee. She was added to the PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee. Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D-Keego Harbor) will replace Camilleri on Joint Capitol Outlay.

This week, the Michigan State Legislature voted on and approved a state budget for Fiscal Year 2024 which begins on October 1, 2023. This budget was months in the making with negotiations culminating between the Governor’s office and Senate and House leadership over the past several weeks. This, coupled with the May Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference’s assessment that state revenues are trending down, meant many of the budget priorities of the House and Senate were negotiated down in total spending, thus bringing the budget for the Fiscal Year 2024 to $81.66 billion.

Both the omnibus and school aid budget received bi-partisan support as increases were made in education, revenue sharing, and behavioral health needs, as well as funding set aside for the state’s rainy day fund and school aid savings account. More than $800 million was spent on projects throughout Michigan that include grant funding for healthcare projects, housing, public infrastructure, and workforce development. To ensure transparency over these projects, the legislature included new boilerplate language requiring state departments to post on a website the requirements of the grants and the grant legislative sponsor.

$91.1 million was appropriated for healthcare grants, $40 million for housing grants, and $234 million for public infrastructure grants. $176 million was allocated for public safety grants and $35 million for workforce development grants.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services had the largest departmental budget, setting a record at $33.4 billion. The department’s spending increases are attributed to rising Medicaid caseloads and actuarial soundness funding for pre-paid inpatient health plans to administer Medicaid coverage. Behavioral health programs received a large funding increase in the FY 24 budget with nearly $66 million of the state’s general fund being allocated to help with the mental health crisis.

Both the House and Senate wrapped up voting before 11 p.m. by adopting Senate Concurrent Resolution 9, which prescribes the legislative agenda for the summer as members will begin their in-district period. Per SCR 9, we can expect the House and Senate to return to Lansing July 18 – 20 and August 22 – 24. The legislature will return to a more normal legislative schedule beginning on September 5.

All budget materials for Fiscal Year 2024 can be found here.

New members have officially been sworn into the Michigan State House of Representatives following the May 3 Special Election in House Districts 15, 36, 43, and 74. New members respectively include Representatives Jeffrey Pepper (D-Dearborn), Terence Mekoski (R-Shelby Township), Mike Harris (R-Clarkston), and Carol Glanville (D-Walker). This leaves the House Republicans with a majority of 57-53.

Committee shuffling ensued during session on May 10. Rep. Pepper was added to the following committees: Families, Children, Seniors, replacing Rep. Darrin Camilleri (D-Brownstown Township), Agriculture replacing Rep. Sarah Cambensy (D-Marquette), and Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), replacing Rep. Kyra Harris Bolden (D-Southfield).

Rep. Glanville will sit on the Insurance Committee, replacing Rep. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), and on the Commerce and Tourism Committee, replacing Rep. Mari Manoogian (D-Birmingham).

Rep. Mekoski was added to the House Judiciary, Local Government, and Regulatory Reform committees while Rep. Harris was added to Energy, Insurance, and Transportation Committees. Both new members replaced seats formerly held by Rep. Ryan Berman (R-Commerce Township) after he requested to be removed from his assignments.

Rep. Matt Hall (R-Comstock Township) was removed from the committee on Regulatory Reform and Rep. Beau LaFave (R-Iron Mountain) was appointed vice-chair of the House Insurance Committee, replacing Rep. Berman.