During the week of April 17, 2026, the Michigan legislature returned from Spring Break and hit the ground running in session and committees.
FY27 Budget
Both the House and the Senate spent the week advancing their respective first-chamber versions of the FY27 state budget, marking the next major phase of the annual appropriations process. Several of the proposals differ from the executive budget recommendations released by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration in mid‑February 2026.
Michigan Senate’s Proposals
The Senate moved FY27 proposals for community colleges and universities, as well as Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), and the Department of Transportation (MDOT).
The Senate’s EGLE budget saw a 32.4% reduction in the General Fund, a 0.8% reduction in MDARD, and a 15.5% reduction in DNR. The two budgets covering universities and community colleges were reported along party lines after Republican Senators questioned multiple boilerplate items, including a proposed reduction in reimbursement rates for charter school authorizers. The Senate MDOT budget eliminated a $24.6 million line item for funding targeted industries and economic redevelopment that the Governor had recommended, as well as eliminating a prohibition on MDOT funding the I-375 project in Detroit.
The Senate did not include any of the Governor’s recommended fee increases in the EGLE budget. Whitmer had proposed increasing tipping fees in prior years’ budgets, but because the fee was excluded from the Senate version, it’s unlikely to be increased in the final budget.
Michigan House’s Proposals
In the House, appropriations subcommittees began moving portions of their FY27 budget, with several additional subcommittees scheduled to meet and report bills early next week.
The House Committees on Military and Veterans Affairs, Public Health, Higher Education and Community Colleges, Human Services, EGLE, General Government, Medicaid and Behavioral Health, Insurance and Financial Services, and Michigan State Police met this week to begin their budget discussions.
The House Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) appropriations subcommittee is expected to vote on its budget next week. Notably, Speaker Matt Hall has proposed restoring $40 million for the Going PRO Talent Fund. This workforce development program was not included in the Governor’s executive recommendation, signaling a continued legislative focus on Michigan’s talent pipeline and economic competitiveness. Restoring Going PRO is a priority of the Detroit Regional Chamber.
Additional Legislation Updates
Both the House and Senate saw movement on a few key bills this week.
The House advanced several policy measures this week, spanning elections, taxation, land use, and real estate regulation. Among the bills passed was HB 4720, legislation restricting the use of certain electronic voting systems, approved 63–41. HB 4765 also passed, requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote and identification at the ballot box; the bill cleared the House 58–46 and was sent to the Senate.
In addition, a package of three bills modifying Michigan’s real estate framework, addressing broker conduct, agency relationship disclosures, and waivers of service in limited-service agreements (HBs 5227, 5228, and 5229), passed overwhelmingly.
Two bills banning mandatory overtime for nurses, SBs 296 and 297, passed out of the Senate 21-16, with Sens. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan) and Joseph Bellino (R-Monroe) joining Democrats in support.
The Chamber continues to oppose this restriction on Michigan’s already strained hospital system. Working hours and overtime should be negotiated at the hospital level between leadership and the employees to fit the unique needs of the patients and community that they serve.
Learn how the Chamber is advocating for business in Detroit and Southeast Michigan.