MLC Insider Intelligence: February 27, 2026
Michigan Legislative Consultants
Weekly Recap: The Senate held session on Tuesday and Wednesday, while the House met Tuesday – Thursday. Governor Whitmer delivered her eighth and final State of the State address.
Republicans Respond to State of the State: On Wednesday evening, Governor Whitmer delivered her final State of the State address, outlining several policy proposals for the coming year. As in typical fashion, members of the opposite political party made public responses following the address.
Medical Debt: The governor outlined a number of steps the state should take on this front to address the issue. This includes capping medical debt interest rates, preventing medical debt from showing up on credit reports, requiring hospitals to set up financial assistance programs, and banning liens or foreclosures because of medical debt. In response, Representative Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia) expressed enthusiasm for strong protections against medical debt, stating she’s been working on a plan introduced last year to shield families from the devastating impacts of medical debt. Her bill, HB 5254, slashes the maximum interest rate allowed on medical debt. The bill is part of a broader bipartisan package addressing this issue.
Literacy: Governor Whitmer called for free PreK education for all Michigan children, getting evidence-based literacy teaching practices into classrooms statewide, and providing more tutoring and small group support in classes and before- and after-school and summer programs.
Representative Greg Alexander (R-Carsonville) doesn’t believe this will get to the root of the problem. He stated that “simply throwing more money at the problem and expecting it to get fixed doubles down on bad policy. We have to look at what other successful states are doing, and that starts with clear standards for reading.” Senator Joe Bellino (R-Monroe) stated that “we also need to ensure our students are getting an education that meets their needs and prepares them for success. This isn’t about simply spending more money; it’s about increasing accountability and flexibility in our schools.”
Housing: Her plan calls for a new state-level housing tax credit, ending certain construction requirements, and streamlining zoning. In response, Representative Ron Robinson (R-Utica) stated that “when it comes to housing, we must confront the skilled trades gap head-on. No matter how much work we do in Lansing to tackle the housing crisis, at the end of the day, homes don’t get built without skilled tradesmen on the ground putting them in the hard yards. If we are serious about increasing supply and lowering costs, we need real investment in career and technical education and apprenticeship programs: this is the foundation we will need to bring about long-lasting solutions.” Furthermore, Senator Jon Bumstead (R-Norton Shores) said that “if we want more affordable housing, we need to make it easier to build. Streamlining zoning rules, cutting unnecessary regulations and speeding up permit approvals will do more to lower costs than growing government. I will always support practical solutions to turn around our state and build a better Michigan.”
Testimony Heard on Digital Identification: Legislation that would allow Michigan residents to obtain a digital driver’s license or state identification card was considered this week in the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Similar legislation was passed by the Senate during the prior legislative session, but didn’t receive action in the House.
Key Points: The five-bill package was introduced by Senator Erika Geiss (D-Taylor), who serves as chair of the committee. It directs the Secretary of State’s office to provide the digital ID upon request, for a fee of $4. However, even if a person has a digital ID, they must retain the physical copy on them when operating a motor vehicle. It also amends the Michigan Election Law, prohibiting an elector from using a mobile ID to verify their identity for election purposes. Under the proposal, the SOS would create the Mobile License Fund, which would be used to cover implementation and administrative costs.
Next Steps: The bill package remains before the committee, awaiting further consideration. The Michigan Department of State supports the legislation.
High School Graduation Rates Reach Record High: Michigan’s 2025 four-year graduation rate improved to the highest level since the state adopted the federal formula for calculating the rate in 2008, according to the latest data released by the Michigan Department of Education.
Data Points: The graduation rate increased to just over 84%, up 1.2% from the previous year, and the five-year rate also improved by nearly 1%, to 85.8%. The largest increases were for homeless students (4.6%), military-connected students (3.8%), African American students (2.6%), economically disadvantaged students (1.5%), and Hispanic/Latino students (1%). Of the largest 20 districts in the state, 16 increased their graduation rates. The largest increase was in the Detroit Public Schools Community District, by 5.1%. The four-year dropout rate also saw improvement, declining from 7.7% to 7.1%.
Contributing Factors: Experts are pointing to secondary school programs such as Career and Technical Education as having contributed to the increasing graduation rate. Additional secondary school programs have experienced increased enrollment, such as dual enrollment, Middle College, and AP courses. Another secondary school program that has contributed is the personal curriculum, which allows students to customize their learning by taking courses aligned with their interests and future educational or career goals. Last school year, program participation increased to 13,315 students.
Spotlight On Representative Regina Weiss: Representative Weiss (D-Oak Park) is serving her third term in the Michigan House of Representatives. She began her professional life as a teacher in the Detroit Public Schools Community District. Prior to her election to the House, she served as an Oak Park City Council member. Representative Weiss earned her degree from Valparaiso University.
District: She represents the 5th House District, which includes Northwest Detroit, Oak Park, and Royal Oak Township.
Committees: Representative Weiss sits on the Education and Workforce and Natural Resources and Tourism Committees.
We asked Representative Weiss a few questions to learn more about her:
What’s your favorite travel destination outside of Michigan?
A – The Pacific Northwest (though the UP has similar vibes)!
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
A – Various scientists— an archeologist, paleontologist, oceanographer, marine biologist, meteorologist, etc.
Next Week: The House and Senate are scheduled to hold their typical Tuesday – Thursday session schedule.