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MichiganHB 45562025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Education: examinations; certain requirements concerning the Michigan merit examination; modify. Amends sec. 1279g of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1279g). Last Action: assigned PA 10'26 with immediate effect

Sponsored By: Tom Kunse (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Education: examinationsEducation: reportsEducation: students

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Families can skip workforce skills testing

Starting in 2026–2027, students required to take Michigan’s merit exam can skip its workforce skills test. A parent or legal guardian must submit a signed waiver by February 28 of the test school year. The waiver goes to the student’s district, intermediate school district, or public school academy. Michigan’s education department must post the waiver online and develop an information letter with business, manufacturing, and skilled-trades groups. Schools must give students and parents or guardians that letter by December 31 of the test school year.

Early college students get school-based testing rules

Beginning June 30, 2026, testing rules apply to students in approved five-year early middle college programs. Programs run as shared educational entities or specialized shared educational entities are excluded. Students receiving at least 50% of their 11th-grade instruction at their high school must take Michigan’s merit exam there. Their scores count with that high school’s scores for all reporting purposes. The education department must also allow the program to use a five-year graduation rate to measure yearly progress.

Student transcripts require attendance, not exam scores

Beginning June 30, 2026, high school transcripts must show each student’s attendance for every high school year. They must list both days attended and total days school was in session. Transcripts no longer have to include scaled scores for each Michigan merit exam subject.

Students face revised exam content and timing

Beginning June 30, 2026, schools must give Michigan’s merit exam during their school year’s final 12 weeks. This replaces the window after March 1 and before June 1 for 11th graders. The exam must test applicable grade-level or course expectations and state standards, using state standards as much as possible. The education department may also consider state standards when choosing the college entrance test. The law ends both the required extended writing sample and the ban on other extended writing samples. When extra subject questions are needed beyond the college entrance test, all questions in that subject must be scaled and combined into one score.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Tom Kunse

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Gina Johnsen

    Republican • House

  • Matt Koleszar

    Democratic • House

  • Regina Weiss

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 230 • No: 9

House vote • 4/30/2026

roll call

Yes: 105 • No: 0 • Other: 5

Senate vote • 3/18/2026

PASSED

Yes: 24 • No: 9 • Other: 4

House vote • 12/18/2025

passed; given immediate effect

Yes: 101 • No: 0 • Other: 9

Actions Timeline

  1. assigned PA 10'26 with immediate effect

    5/14/2026House

  2. filed with Secretary of State 05/14/2026 10:32 AM

    5/14/2026House

  3. approved by the Governor 05/14/2026 09:30 AM

    5/14/2026House

  4. presented to the Governor 05/05/2026 09:30 AM

    5/12/2026House

  5. bill ordered enrolled

    4/30/2026House

  6. title amendment agreed to

    4/30/2026House

  7. roll call Roll Call #134 Yeas 105 Nays 0 Excused 0 Not Voting 5

    4/30/2026House

  8. Senate substitute (S-3) concurred in

    4/30/2026House

  9. laid over one day under the rules

    4/22/2026House

  10. returned from Senate with substitute (S-3) with immediate effect and title amendment

    4/22/2026House

  11. RETURNED TO HOUSE

    4/22/2026Senate

  12. GIVEN IMMEDIATE EFFECT

    4/22/2026Senate

  13. PLACED ON ORDER OF THIRD READING

    4/22/2026Senate

  14. RETURN GRANTED

    4/22/2026Senate

  15. request granted

    4/21/2026House

  16. Senate requests return

    4/21/2026House

  17. SENATE REQUESTS RETURN

    4/21/2026Senate

  18. laid over one day under the rules

    3/18/2026House

  19. returned from Senate with substitute (S-3) with title amendment

    3/18/2026House

  20. RETURNED TO HOUSE

    3/18/2026Senate

  21. TITLE AMENDED

    3/18/2026Senate

  22. PASSED ROLL CALL # 30 YEAS 24 NAYS 9 EXCUSED 4 NOT VOTING 0

    3/18/2026Senate

  23. PLACED ON ORDER OF THIRD READING WITH SUBSTITUTE (S-3)

    2/24/2026Senate

  24. SUBSTITUTE (S-3) CONCURRED IN

    2/24/2026Senate

  25. REPORTED BY COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FAVORABLY WITH SUBSTITUTE (S-3)

    2/24/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Public Act

    5/14/2026

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House

    4/30/2026

    PDF

  • House Concurred

    4/30/2026

    PDF

  • As Passed by the Senate

    3/18/2026

    PDF

  • Introduced

    6/5/2025

    PDF

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