LANSING — The Michigan Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would restore the cuts enacted by the state House last week.
But that proposal would still need to pass through the state House before funding is restored.
Last week, state House Republicans denied requests for recipients of more than $600 million to carry the funding from one fiscal year into another.
Michigan Democrats — and some Republicans in the state Senate — have criticized those cuts, saying they lacked public consideration and are unfair to organizations that made plans around this funding.
The Democratic-controlled Senate is proposing that the funds, which were already approved by the governor and lawmakers over a year ago, be reinstated in full.
The bill — HB 4576 — passed the chamber with a 23-13 vote. Five Senate Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the proposal.
The Michigan Senate passed the funding by adding onto a pre-existing bill that started in the state House. That allows the House to act on the proposal immediately and avoids a required five-day waiting period for new legislation.
Sen. Sarah Anthony, the Democrats’ top budget negotiator, encouraged the House GOP to reverse their decision and restore funding before breaking for Christmas.
“As of today, the House Republicans could take up the supplemental that the Senate just passed and restore these funds immediately,” said Anthony, (D) District 21, Lansing. “That would be the responsible thing to do to provide clarity to these grantees, local organizations, hospital systems, nonprofits who are relying on the state for these funds.”
House Republicans have not yet responded to the proposal. But before the vote yesterday, House Speaker Matt Hall stood by the GOP’s decision not to re-authorize the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Hall and other Republicans have said they plan to have grant recipients make their case before lawmakers in 2026.