Jan. 31, 2025 | This Week in Government: House Committees Announced; GOP Picks Sit Middle of the Road, Democrats Feel Disregarded

House members now have their committee assignments.

House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) announced all remaining committee chairs and members for the 2025-26 at a press conference on Thursday.

This is the latest committee assignments for the term have been announced based on a review of Gongwer News Service archives going back to January 1967. January 29 had been the previous latest announcement, which occurred twice, in 1969 and 1975.

A full roster of committee assignments can be found at the Gongwer Directories page.

On the Republican side, the majority chairs are largely middle-of-the-road House members with some degree of experience in the area they are tasked with overseeing. The exception is the House Oversight Committee subcommittee chairs, where Hall selected more outspoken hard-liners, such as Rep. Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers) and Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia).

Democrats, however, got their pick for minority vice chair on just eight of the 40 standing committees and subcommittees, according to the list publicized earlier this month by Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton).

“We just placed them, and I think we did it in a manner where the institution is going to work very well,” Hall said.

Rep. Pauline Wendzel (R-Watervliet) will chair the House Energy Committee, Rep. Mark Tisdel (R-Rochester Hills) will chair the House Finance Committee, and Rep. Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington) will chair the House Health Policy Committee. The House Regulatory Reform Committee  will be chaired by Rep. Joseph Aragona (R-Clinton Township), and the House Natural Resources and Tourism Committee will be chaired by Rep. David Martin (R-Davison).

In the breakdown of committees by the numbers, of the 370 total committee and subcommittee slots, Republicans hold 63.2% of them. They hold 53% of the 110 seats in the chamber this term.

On average, every Republican member has four committee assignments, and every Democratic member has two, Hall said. No members were left out of committee assignments.

By comparison, last term, of the 401 total committee slots, Democrats held 62.6% of them. They held 51% of the 110 seats in the chamber.

Brain Calley, president and chief executive officer of the Small Business Association of Michigan, reacted to the committee assignments on Thursday. He served in the House from 2007-10 and was lieutenant governor from 2011-19.

“Speaker Hall took his time making committee assignments and today’s announcement shows that the extra time was well spent. The committee structure, member assignments and committee chair appointments look like they are built to perform,” he said. “He also looks to have taken steps to unify his caucus, placing former rivals in places of high influence and generally playing to the strengths of individual members. These are smart choices.”

House Democrats felt differently, with many accusing Hall of playing political games with the length of the process and raising concerns about the rejection of the minority party’s recommendations.

Rep. Phil Skaggs (D-East Grand Rapids) described the process this term as a “wholesale denying of the expertise of the minority party.”

“It’s not helpful and conducive for governing Michigan in an era of divided government,” Skaggs said.

Skaggs was assigned to the House Agriculture Committee, which he said he did not ask for, is not relevant to his suburban district and he lacks expertise in. He went on to say he felt he was being punished by the speaker for criticizing his press secretary in posts on social media.

The Democratic committee assignments displayed a level of hyper partisanship that Skaggs said would destroy chances of healthy bipartisanship, and he said it broke the standard approach to committee assignments in which the speaker honors most of the requests of the minority leader.

“You can’t break an institution and expect that institution to function well,” he said.

A House Republican source said on background that House Republicans honored the requests of House Democrats to about the same degree their requests were honored last year when they were in the minority. Other sources said it is typical for the speaker to reject minority requests.

Hall, however, said that he carefully weighed committee assignments for Democrats and Republicans based on their requests, what they were interested in and what they wanted to achieve during the term. He once again asserted he didn’t trust the recommendations of Puri, as he saw them as “punishing” Democratic members.

Several House Democrats have said they don’t believe Puri’s recommendations were designed to punish anyone in the caucus.

Named as standing committee chairs:

• Rep. Jerry Neyer (R-Shepherd) to the House Agriculture Committee
• Rep. Jaime Greene (R-Richmond) to the House Communications and Technology Committee
• Rep. Mike Hoadley (R-Au Gres) to the House Economic Competitiveness Committee
• Rep. Nancy De Boer (R-Holland) to the House Education and Workforce Committee
• Rep. Rachelle Smit (R-Shelbyville) to the House Election Integrity Committee
• Rep. Pauline Wendzel (R-Watervliet) to the House Energy Committee
• Rep. Kathy Schmaltz (R-Jackson) to the House Families and Veterans Committee
• Rep. Mark Tisdel (R-Rochester Hills) to the House Finance Committee
• Rep. Brian BeGole (R-Perry) to the House Government Operations Committee
• Rep. Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington) to the House Health Policy Committee
• Rep. Mike Harris (R-Waterford) to the House Insurance Committee
• Rep. David Martin (R-Davison) to the House Natural Resources and Tourism Committee
• Rep. Joseph Aragona (R-Clinton Township) to the House Regulatory Reform Committee
• Rep. Bill Schuette (R-Midland) to the House Rules Committee
• Rep. Pat Outman (R-Six Lakes) to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
• Hall (R-Richland Township) previously announced chairs for the Appropriations, Judiciary and Oversight committees. Rep. Ann Bollin (R-Brighton) is the chair of the House Appropriations Committee, with Rep. Matt Maddock (R-Milford) serving and vice chair and Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) minority vice chair.

Among the House Appropriations subcommittee chairs:

• Rep. Ken Borton (R-Gaylord) to Agriculture and Rural Development and Natural Resources
• Rep. Bradley Slagh (R-Zeeland) to Corrections and Judiciary
• Rep. Greg Markkanen (R-Hancock) to Higher Education and Community Colleges
• Rep. Cam Cavitt (R-Cheboygan) to Environment, Great Lakes and Energy
• Rep. John Roth (R-Interlochen) to Human Services
• Rep. Nancy Jenkins-Arno (R-Clayton) to Labor and Economic Opportunity
• Rep. Timmy Beson (R-Bay City) to Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and Insurance and Financial Services
• Rep. Greg VanWoerkom (R-Norton Shores) to Medicaid and Behavioral Health
• Rep. Thomas Kuhn (R-Troy) to General Government
• Rep. Mike Mueller (R-Linden) to State Police
• Rep. Ron Robinson (R-Utica) to Military and Veterans Affairs
• Rep. Phil Green (R-Watertown Township) to Public Health
• Rep. Donni Steele (R-Orion Township) to State and Local Transportation
• Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw Township) to School Aid and Department of Education

There are 11 committee chairs this term who were the minority vice chairs of the same committee last term: Neyer, Smit, Wendzel, VanderWall, Harris, Martin, Outman, Borton, Slagh, Green, and Steele.

Several other committee chairs have previous experience on the committee or subcommittee they are overseeing.

• Kelly served on School Aid and Education House Appropriations Subcommittee and chaired the subcommittee from 2015-2018.
• Cavitt served on the EGLE appropriations subcommittee.
• Kuhn was on the General Government appropriations subcommittee.
• Jenkins-Arno chaired the Joint Capital Outlay Subcommittee during the 2015-16 term.
• Greene served on the Energy and Communications and Technology Committee last term.
• Tisdel served on Tax Policy.
• Aragona served on Regulatory Reform.

Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-Springport) will chair the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay) will chair the House Oversight Committee.

For the Oversight subcommittees, Rep. Luke Meerman (R-Coopersville) will chair Child Welfare System, Carra will chair Corporate Subsidies and State Investments, Rep. William Bruck (R-Erie) will chair Homeland Security and Foreign Influence, Rep. Matt Bierlein (R-Vassar) will chair Public Health and Food Security, Rigas will chair Weaponization of State Government and Rep. Jason Woolford (R-Howell) will chair State and Local Assistance Programs.

Hall, when asked about committee assignments, particularly the House Energy Committee, said that he did not consult any lobbyists while developing the committees.

“We did not consult any lobbyists,” he said. “We did not share them with the lobbyists. We shared them with the members … I didn’t want lobbyists influencing the committees because they should be based on the merit of the members.”

Officials in Michigan and across the country are still wondering what the future of trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans will be as the White House Office of Management and Budget walked back its Monday freeze on those funds, only for President Donald Trump’s spokesperson to say it will still take effect.

State governments and nonprofits found themselves reeling as Medicaid portals and Head Start reimbursements became inaccessible Tuesday, rushing to file litigation arguing Trump’s order was an unconstitutional violation of Congress’s right to appropriate funds. An initial stay was granted by a federal judge Tuesday evening (See Gongwer Michigan Report, Jan. 28, 2025).

In a two-line memo issued Wednesday afternoon, the OMB rescinded the memo which initiated the freeze on Monday evening. However, shortly after that, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted a statement to X, formerly Twitter, saying the new OMB memo did not mean the freeze was cancelled.

“This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo,” Leavitt said. “Why? To end any confusion created by the court’s injunction. The President’s EO’s on federal funding remain in full force and effect and will be rigorously implemented.”

Meanwhile, a second federal judge moved to temporarily block the order. U.S. District Judge Jack McConnell granted a restraining order after Leavitt’s statement, saying the OMB’s original memo was “hugely ambiguous.” The group of states which initiated the litigation argued Leavitt’s statement further complicated the matter and indicated that the White House intends to continue its pursuit of the freeze, which McConnell agreed necessitated further legal intervention.

State and federal officials continued to respond to the possibility that federal funds could still be frozen, despite an ongoing lack of clarity from the federal government.

“The phones at our office have been ringing non-stop,” U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) said in a statement. “Child care centers are worried they’ll have to close their doors, hurting not only the kids, but the parents who can’t go to work without them. Food programs that feed the hungry are unsure if they will be able to service the thousands of seniors and students who rely on them. Police and fire departments are uncertain as to whether they will see equipment and training they were promised to help keep us safe. Shelters couldn’t access the funds they use to house dozens of vulnerable women and children. Flint families are worried programs that address the long-term impact of the Water Crisis will be eliminated.”

McDonald Rivet added: “Health care facilities that provide for our most vulnerable neighbors are scared they’ll have to cut staff and turn patients away. This chaos and disruption has been completely unnecessary and is terrible for our community.”

Michigan House Democrats held a press conference decrying the confusion caused by the conflicting orders, calling it a “Republican culture of chaos.”

“Trump is like a kid acting out testing the boundaries,” Rep. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor) said. “He is doing a bunch of terrible things seeing what he can get away with. We need to calmly and firmly say no.”

Superintendent of Public Instruction Michael Rice issued a statement following the OMB’s recission of its initial memo, saying the Department of Education will “remain vigilant with its colleague agencies across state government to protect resources that serve children, families, and educators across our great state.”

State Board of Education President Pamela Pugh (D-Saginaw) said in a Wednesday morning statement that Rice provided declarations on behalf of MDE for Attorney General Dana Nessel and other states’ lawsuit against the Trump administration.

“Our collective response to these federal challenges will remain strong, swift, and united to safeguard our children’s futures,” Pugh said. “We stand with educators, parents, and leaders across the state and nation, steadfast in urging the administration to prioritize the health and education of our children over partisan considerations. Our children are not bargaining chips; they are the future leaders of this country.”

Further arguments on the matter of the order have been scheduled in U.S. District Court for February 3.

The 2026 election cycle will be one unlike any Michigan has ever seen, set up by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) stunning the state with his decision not to seek a third term.

Peters’ decision means 2026 will be the first time ever Michigan has had open seats for governor and U.S. Senate in the same year since the direct election of U.S. senators began in 1916. Couple those A-list races with open seat races for secretary of state and attorney general, plus both chambers of the Legislature, and never has Michigan gone into an election with such uncertainty and tumult.

The Peters decision – setting up the third open-seat U.S. Senate race in Michigan since 2014 – ignited more than the usual wildfire of speculation about who might run. It also had what observers in both political parties described as a symbiotic effect on the governor’s race. Sources close to several potential gubernatorial candidates for both parties’ nominations, if not the candidates themselves, immediately said they were considering the U.S. Senate race.

Democratic sources described Peters’ decision as one with pros and cons. To the negative, the party loses Peters, who would have been favored to hold the U.S. Senate seat for Democrats. To the positive, some of the stronger candidates who were considering running for governor now might instead gravitate to the Senate race and simplify the nomination fight for governor.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is the lone declared Democratic candidate for governor. Potential gubernatorial candidates like former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow are all looking at the U.S. Senate race.

For Republicans, the news was all positive and further buoyed a feeling of momentum within the party after a 2024 cycle that saw it win Michigan for President Donald Trump, flip a U.S. House seat and flip control of the Michigan House.

Prior to the Peters announcement, there was no buzz about whom Republicans might field against Peters in 2026 with the focus on governor. Now, the party gets another chance to end its drought in the U.S. Senate races. In the last 17 Michigan U.S. Senate races since 1976, Republicans have won once, which was in 1994. Since then, the GOP has had 10 consecutive defeats. Its candidates came excruciatingly close, however, in the 2020 and 2024 races.

Further, Peters’ announcement could similarly simplify the Republican primary for governor.

The only declared candidate is Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt of Porter Township. Former Attorney General Mike Cox is expected to get into the race soon. Former House Speaker Tom Leonard is seriously considering a bid for governor. All are expected to stay in the governor’s race lane. Perry Johnson, who tried to run for governor in 2022 but got disqualified for lack of valid petition signatures, told The Detroit News he continues to consider the governor’s race and is not interested in the Senate contest.

However, U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township), who had been said to be weighing a bid for governor, signaled Tuesday he’s looking at the Senate race. He lost an upstart bid in 2018 to then-U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) and an extremely close race to Peters in 2020.

The party’s 2022 nominee for governor, Tudor Dixon, had been said to be mulling another try in 2026. Tuesday, she said she’s considering her options. Another Republican 2022 gubernatorial candidate, Kevin Rinke, also seen as a gubernatorial hopeful in 2026, signaled interest in the U.S. Senate race.

Whitmer is Out; Other Democrats Thinking About It

The one Democrat who could have instantly cleared the field in her party for U.S. Senate – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer – emphatically took herself out of consideration.

In an appearance on “The View” to promote the young adult version of her book, “True Gretch,” she ruled out running for U.S. Senate.

“Three letters, NFW,” she said, using an acronym for “no f—ing way.” “I am not going anywhere. I’ve got two more years on my term. I’ve got a lot of things I want to get done as governor.”

Whitmer continued to leave her options open for a presidential bid in 2028, however.

Many other big names are considering a Senate run, though.

A source close to Gilchrist, speaking on background, said he is “seriously considering running for this open Senate seat.” The source was asked if Gilchrist is also considering running for governor, but there was no response.

Gilchrist seriously considered running for U.S. Senate in 2024 after Stabenow announced she would not seek reelection, but, as support quickly coalesced around now-U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, he opted against a run. He has long been said to want to run for governor in 2026.

Axios reported that Buttigieg, a legal resident of Traverse City since 2022 and who would bring massive national resources to the race, is considering a run.

A source close to U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) said the four-term member of Congress is considering the Senate seat.

U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) posted about Peters’ announcement on X, formerly Twitter, saying there are “many conversations to come.”

“We must have a strong leader fight for and win this seat. We know that Trump won Michigan, but candidates like myself won in tough places, as well,” she said in the post. “We’ve done it before, and we can do it again. There’s a long road to November 2026. Michigan is the only place I’ve ever called home, and I am proud to be a part of the fight to ensure that our state has the leaders it deserves at every level of government.”

McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), in a Tuesday statement, said she will be considering not one but two different statewide elected offices: the open U.S. Senate seat and the race for governor.

“I’m taking a very close look at both the Senate seat, as well as the governor’s race, and plan to have a number of conversations in the coming days about where I can do the most good for Michiganders,” McMorrow said.

McMorrow expressed interest late last year in running for chair of the Democratic National Committee, but she opted not to enter the race. She drew national attention in 2022 after delivering a floor speech that went viral attacking a Republican colleague over a campaign fundraising email. Last year she delivered a speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Another name who did not immediately rule herself out is U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City).

Several Democrats quickly took themselves out of consideration like U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor), Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids), Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter, and Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia).

“I’m the Democratic dean of the Michigan congressional delegation, and I’ve got to fight for many issues,” Dingell said. “I don’t have time to bullshit, and I’m not someone who is meant to go out and do nothing but raise money. I’m staying in the job where I can be most effective and deliver for the people of Michigan.”

Darci McConnell of Detroit-based McConnell Communications said the Peters announcement was a surprise and puts Democrats in a challenging spot because there were not more conversations in advance with players in the party to line up a successor. That’s what happened in 2013 when the late U.S. Sen. Carl Levin retired and passed the torch to Peters, who ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination in 2014. A similar scenario played out in 2023 when Stabenow decided not to run and Slotkin quickly emerged as the successor, though she had to put down a nominal challenge in the primary from Hill Harper.

“We do have quality candidates. Ideally, we can agree on someone, right, so we can focus on winning and not shoot each other in the foot,” she said. “I will say it was disappointing that Senator Peters didn’t have these conversations on the front end so grassroots groups could work to identify a successor. Because what we don’t want to have is 20 candidates and tee it up for the opposition to win the seat.”

Ebullient Republicans Now Considering Race

On the Republican side, several names quickly emerged.

James was not ruling out a run for the open seat on Tuesday, with his communications director pointing reporters toward a post on X, formerly Twitter, from James.

“Brighter days are ahead for Michigan,” James wrote.

Former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, who lost the closest race for a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan history in 2024, is said to be strongly considering a bid. Efforts to reach him on Tuesday were unsuccessful. His running so far behind Trump raises questions of whether he is best positioned to capitalize the Trump movement.

Dixon posted on X that she appreciates “the outpouring of support and am considering our future very seriously.” She called Peters’ departure “an opportunity for a strong America First candidate” who will help Trump’s agenda on the border, prices and manufacturing.

Rinke tweeted apparent interest in running for U.S. Senate in 2026. He was said to be looking at another try for governor.

First-term Sen. Jonathan Lindsey (R-Coldwater), in a statement, acknowledged he has had people urging him to run but has not made any decision.

“I am humbled by the number of people who reached out today asking me to run for the open U.S. Senate seat in 2026,” Lindsey said.

Several Republicans named Lindsey as an ambitious, fresh face who comes out of the Trump movement and has the political skills to go further. Whether that is a U.S. Senate run now, or higher office in the future is the question. He’s eligible to run for two more terms in the state Senate.

Rep. Matt Maddock (R-Milford) did not rule out a run for himself when asked.

“Never count the Maddocks out,” he said.

Maddock’s wife, Meshawn Maddock, is running for Michigan Republican Party chair.

Rep. Bryan Posthumus (R-Cannon Township) also left the door open for a Senate run, saying that it was still early to make a call.

“I’ve had a lot of people approach me,” he said. “It’s still early, and we will have to see how things shape up.”

Two other names were reported to have interest: former National Football League head coach Tony Dungy, who has lived in Jackson, and U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland). The Hill and Politico reported the interest of Dungy, who has been a football commentator on television since retiring from coaching work. Several outlets cited unnamed sources of Huizenga’s interest.

Others ruled themselves out.

U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) is currently focused on representing the 7th U.S. House District, said Jason Roe, a campaign spokesperson for Barrett. U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Bruce Township), who continues to rise in the House Republican Conference, said she will stay put and seek reelection.

At least one state senator, Sen. Jim Runestad of White Lake, will not be considering the race. Runestad, who is term-limited, is currently seeking election as chair of the Michigan Republican Party.

“I am focused 100% on this state committee chairman race. I believe I’m the best candidate and only focused on this race,” Runestad said in a statement.

Meghan Reckling, a Republican political consultant and chief executive officer of Victory Field Operations, said Peters’ decision has the party newly excited for the race.

“Republicans, we weren’t going to pay attention (to the Senate race) in 2026, to be quite frank,” she said. “Republicans defeating an incumbent U.S. senator is a nearly impossible feat for us to take on.”

Now, the party has a great opportunity if it fields the right candidate, Reckling said.

Republicans would benefit from running a newcomer who can represent the state on issues important to purple state voters like the economy, jobs, immigration and public safety, Reckling said.

“What Republicans in Michigan really have to make sure that we’re keeping in mind are the individuals who came out in 2024 to vote for President Trump that did not vote for any other Republicans down the ballot or did not check the straight party Republican box. They came out to vote for Trump and that’s the only person they voted for,” she said. “I think we have to have a candidate that reflects the unique demographic that is Michigan.”

The ripple effects of the Peters decision are massive, Reckling said.

There’s the impact on the governor’s race with some people now considering running for U.S. Senate instead. The U.S. Senate race could prompt members of the U.S. House to run and give up their seats, which in turn will prompt state legislators to run for Congress.

“This decision by Peters is going to cause a cataclysmic earthquake in Michigan on both sides of the aisle,” she said. “I do think it’s going to move fast. If you are not moving and looking at this at lightning speed – and we’re talking hours and days not weeks and months – you’re going to get left behind.”

The House unanimously adopted a resolution Wednesday to change House rules to increase transparency around budget earmarks.

HR 14 requires that earmarks must be made public 14 days before the passage of a bill or conference report. That means the House won’t add and approve earmarks for special projects mere hours after making the budget public. It will also diminish the opportunity to pass the entire budget by conference committee, House Appropriations Chair Rep. Ann Bollin (R-Brighton) said.

“This is just really a great opportunity to bring more transparency and accountability,” Bollin said. “We to know that the money is being spent. Taxpayers are getting value for their dollars. And this is not to say no to any project or yes to any project. It shouldn’t be who you know, it should be what you know, and we all deserve to know it’s going to provide a public benefit.”

The rules change would also require nonprofits receiving earmarks to have been in existence for three years with a physical address for at least 12 months.

“These are just commonsense things,” House Appropriations Minority Vice Chair Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) said. “People in Michigan are counting on us. One of our very serious charges that the Constitution has is for us is to deliver a balanced budget every year and to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. I think they deserve to know what program members are pushing for.”

Although Democrats voted for the rule change without opposition, Rep. Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn) proposed a floor substitute that would have tie barred the rule change to the Senate’s Freedom of Information Act legislation, SB 1 and SB 2, that expands FOIA to include the Legislature and the governor’s office. Republicans did not adopt the substitute.

Bollin said although she was supportive of FOIA, she viewed it as a separate conversation.

“I don’t think it would be prudent to pass bills that have never been to committee that are of such significance,” she said.

The new requirements will ensure that projects are vetted by both the Legislature and the public, Farhat said.

“We’re just making sure that people have access to the real information they need,” he said.

The Senate doesn’t have any similar rules for budget earmarks, but Bollin and Farhat said they were hopeful that the Senate would join the House in its approach.

“We took a really strong stand today by passing it out of this chamber with everybody here voting for it,” Bollin said. “This is a House rule. We don’t have the authority to determine what the rules are in the Senate. Hopefully they will join us and adopt a resolution, but this is the path forward for the House on our budget.”

Farhat said the rule amendments would encourage conversations.

“I look at this an opportunity for us, as a full-time Legislature, to professionalize this process,” he said. “I think it deserves that level of deliberation.”

Bollin said that the Legislature has a constitutional obligation to adopt a balanced budget by Sept. 30, which is the final day of the state’s fiscal year. There is a statutory obligation to adopt a budget by July 1, but Bollin said that deadline was largely arbitrary.

“There may be some budgets, some departments, that get moved as we’re able to come to an agreement and leave it in the hands of the Senate,” she said. “Just because it’s the practice that we’ve had in the past, or we have this arbitrary deadline – this is about restoring the public’s trust in how we work in state government. We’re committed to continuing to advance that, and we’re doing our very best. It may be a little clumsy this first year, but we are absolutely committed.”

Bollin and Farhat said that by making changes to the House rules, rather than introducing legislation to achieve the same end, the changes could go into effect immediately.

“We can get to work, and as we’re having these conversations around the budget, we can operate with these ground rules,” Farhat said.

Bollin said she expected there would be legislation to put the rules into statute at a later date.

“For now, we’re getting the executive’s recommendation next week, and we really wanted to set the tone of how we’re going to approach the budget.”

Full committee assignments have yet to be announced in the House, but Bollin said she expected to have the full House Appropriations Committee announced prior to the governor’s budget presentation on Feb. 5 before a joint meeting of the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee.

Michigan’s students lagged those in other states in reading scores measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress over the last two school years, a Wednesday report showed, prompting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to unveil broad strategies of her proposed K-12 budget with an emphasis on improving literacy and student achievement metrics.

Test scores examined by the National Center for Education Statistics showed Michigan’s rank in fourth grade reading declined when measured against other states, dropping to 44th from 43rd in 2022 and 32 in 2019. Eighth grade scores were better, though they still fell from 31st in 2022 to 33rd in 2024. They were 28th in 2019.

The report also shows 75% of Michigan’s fourth graders and 76% of eighth graders do not read above grade-level proficiency standards. Nationally, only a handful of states saw any improvement from pre-COVID-19 scores in either grade.

“Overall, student achievement has not returned to pre-pandemic performance,” NCES Commissioner Peggy Carr said in a statement. “Where there are signs of recovery, they are mostly in math and largely driven by higher-performing students. Lower-performing students are struggling, especially in reading.”

The decline in reading scores since 2019, when Whitmer became governor, prompted heavy Republican criticism.

When asked for comment on Michigan’s test scores, a spokesperson for Whitmer pointed to the governor’s new Students, Metrics and Results with Transparency, SMART, Plan, described as a five-point investment framework that will be included in the governor’s recommendation for the fiscal year 2025-26 school aid budget.

The Whitmer administration will present the governor’s budget proposal Feb. 5 to a joint meeting of the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee at Heritage Hall.

It includes an increase in per-pupil foundation allowance, mental health and school safety investments, and career and technical education provisions but also puts a large focus on literacy interventions and rewarding school districts that provide increased publicly available information about student outcomes. The governor’s office did not release any dollar figures attached to those broad themes, nor what metrics and transparency measures might be sought.

“The budget builds on historic investments in literacy and new bills to institute commonsense, results-driven science of reading practices across Michigan,” the governor’s office said in a statement. “It will double literacy grants to districts and provide additional funding to help them implement the new science of reading requirement; ensure each intermediate school district in Michigan has at least two literacy coaches for the first time in state history; and continue the Michigan Reading Corps and LETRS training.”

Michigan Republicans called the state’s test scores a failure of Democratic education policy.

“We cannot allow ourselves to become desensitized to numbers this shocking,” Sen. Lana Theis (R-Brighton) said in a statement. “Three out of four Michigan students are struggling with literacy, yet instead of raising the bar and providing better support, Democrats have systematically dismantled key policies that were designed to help students succeed.”

Beth DeShone, executive director of the Great Lakes Education Project, which has opposed most Democrats’ education policy changes in recent years, echoed Theis’ statement.

“Absolutely none of us should be surprised that Michigan students are paying the price for the Democrats’ failed agenda in Lansing,” DeShone said in a statement. “When the system fails to take care of the basics for our students at a young age, our kids will pay a price for the rest of their lives. These test scores affirm what we already know: refusing to prioritize student learning, especially literacy for our youngest learners, leaves all our kids in the dust.”

While Theis pointed to the Legislature’s doing away with letter grades for schools and certain provisions of the Read by Grade Three law as the reason for the low scores, others, like Ed Trust-Midwest, attributed them to a lack of equitable school funding statewide.

“Michigan’s continued lagging performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress is proof positive that we need to act now to ensure our students have the resources and support for educational recovery and acceleration,” Ed Trust communications director Jennifer Mrozowski said in a statement. “This can’t wait. Educational recovery will take bold state leadership and statewide solutions, starting with fair and adequate school funding, especially for students with the greatest needs.”