All Roll Calls
Yes: 169 • No: 0
MichiganSB 03492025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
Education: examinations; opt-out option for the workforce readiness assessment portion of the Michigan merit examination; provide for. Amends sec. 1279g of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1279g). Last Action: ASSIGNED PA 0057'25
Sponsored By: Dayna Polehanki (Democratic)
Became Law
Education: examinations
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Free college exam retake for low-income students
One retake of the college entrance exam part of the MME is free only if all rules are met. You must have taken the full MME, meet free-meal income rules, have applied for a provider scholarship or fee waiver and been denied, and have not already received a free retake. If these rules are not all met, you pay the retake fee.
MME access and accommodations for students
Children in nonpublic schools and home schools may take the MME. A home-schooled child contacts the local district, which must give the test, or may test at a nonpublic school if allowed. If a district tests a non-enrolled child, those scores do not count for the district’s results. Students with eligible disabilities get testing accommodations under Section 504, the ADA, or IDEA. The test provider and the state superintendent agree on the accommodations.
MME reports and transcript details
Test contractors provide an individual report for each student. The report shows if the student met or did not meet each standard, for parents and teachers. High school transcripts show scaled MME scores for each subject if the student took the exam. Transcripts also show days attended and total days in session for each high school year.
Opt out of workforce readiness test
Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, a student may skip the workforce readiness test. A parent or legal guardian must sign the state waiver and send it to the school by February 28 of that school year. By December 31 of the test year, schools must give families a letter, developed with business and trade groups, that explains the workforce test’s purpose and benefits.
Stronger test quality and accuracy rules
Test vendors must meet industry quality levels: CMM level 2 in the first full year and level 3 after that. Contracts must set deadlines for materials and results and include penalties for late or wrong work. The superintendent ensures tests match grade content, follow federal rules, and follow fair testing practices. Any question found factually wrong is removed from scoring.
What the Michigan Merit Exam covers
The exam tests English language arts with one extended writing sample, plus math, reading, and science. It includes social studies, with questions on genocide where appropriate, such as the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide. The state chooses workforce tests that can give nationally recognized results when students score well. The exam can include other parts needed for federal approval.
Who takes the MME and when
Schools must give the Michigan Merit Exam to all 11th graders. 12th graders take it only if they missed the full exam in 11th grade. Each student takes the complete MME only once. The test happens each year between March 1 and June 1. Scores go to students, parents, and schools by the start of the student’s first semester of 12th grade. The total time to answer all questions stays as short as possible and not over 8 hours if standards can still be met.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Dayna Polehanki
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Erika Geiss
Democratic • Senate
Jeff Irwin
Democratic • Senate
Mallory McMorrow
Democratic • Senate
Rosemary Bayer
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 12/16/2025
ROLL CALL:
Yes: 35 • No: 0 • Other: 2
House vote • 12/11/2025
passed; given immediate effect
Yes: 101 • No: 0 • Other: 9
Senate vote • 8/13/2025
PASSED
Yes: 33 • No: 0 • Other: 4
Actions Timeline
ASSIGNED PA 0057'25
12/23/2025SenateFILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE 12/23/2025 12:06 PM
12/23/2025SenateAPPROVED BY GOVERNOR 12/23/2025 10:36 AM
12/23/2025SenatePRESENTED TO GOVERNOR 12/18/2025 9:50 AM
12/23/2025SenateORDERED ENROLLED
12/16/2025SenateFULL TITLE AGREED TO
12/16/2025SenateROLL CALL: ROLL CALL # 336 YEAS 35 NAYS 0 EXCUSED 2 NOT VOTING 0
12/16/2025SenateHOUSE SUBSTITUTE (H-1) CONCURRED IN
12/16/2025HouseRULES SUSPENDED FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION
12/16/2025SenatePASSED BY HOUSE WITH SUBSTITUTE (H-1) WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT
12/16/2025Housereturned to Senate
12/11/2025Houseinserted full title
12/11/2025Housepassed; given immediate effect Roll Call #327 Yeas 101 Nays 0 Excused 0 Not Voting 9
12/11/2025Houseread a third time
12/11/2025Houseplaced on third reading
12/10/2025Housesubstitute (H-1) adopted
12/10/2025Houseread a second time
12/10/2025Housereferred to second reading
12/10/2025Housereported with recommendation with substitute (H-1)
12/10/2025Houserecommendation concurred in
11/6/2025Housereported with recommendation for referral to Committee on Education and Workforce
11/6/2025Housereferred to Committee on Government Operations
8/13/2025Houseread a first time
8/13/2025Housereceived on 08/13/2025
8/13/2025HousePASSED ROLL CALL # 206 YEAS 33 NAYS 0 EXCUSED 4 NOT VOTING 0
8/13/2025Senate
Bill Text
Public Act
12/23/2025
As Passed by the Senate
12/16/2025
Senate Concurred
12/16/2025
As Passed by the House
12/11/2025
Introduced
6/4/2025
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