Lansing Update: New State Budget Continues Critical Support for Nonpublic Schools
Posted July 10, 2026
New Budget Continues Nonpublic School Funding for Safety, Meals, and More
Catholic and nonpublic students will continue receiving state support toward safer school buildings, access to healthy meals, and more under the new state budget passed by the Legislature and expected to be signed by the Governor.
Michigan Catholic Conference’s advocacy for nonpublic schools resulted in nearly every budget item that MCC staff requested included in the final deal agreed to by the Governor and Legislature. Both the Senate and House provided bipartisan approval to the final bill in a vote last week, which now awaits the Governor’s signature to become law.
The new budget will continue the $21 million in school safety funding approved for the current year budget. These funds allow schools to apply for grants to make security improvements. It can also be used for hiring school resource officers or mental health counselors.
Lawmakers also increased funding to the school meal program for nonpublic schools, allocating $2 million and setting aside another $1 million if needed, given increased participation by nonpublic schools after they were included in the program for the first time this budget year. This marks an increase over the current year amount of $1.6 million for the program, which allows eligible schools to offer breakfast and lunch to all students, regardless of family income, provided they are participating in the federal meal program.
In a new development this year, the state budget will also make nonpublic schools eligible for new teachers who received state support toward their teaching education or who receive a state stipend for fulfilling their student-teacher assignment, following years of advocacy from MCC.
The state has been attempting to increase the number of teachers in Michigan by providing fellowships to offset tuition to prospective teachers attending college preparation programs, as well as stipends while serving as student teachers.
However, under existing program constraints, new teachers would have to repay the fellowship if they initially worked in a nonpublic school after receiving their teaching degree and would only receive a stipend if they fulfilled their student teacher assignment in a public school.
After years of MCC advocacy with lawmakers, the new budget lifts these restrictions. For the fellowship program, the inclusion of nonpublic schools is a return to how the program was implemented in its very first year. For the stipend program, this is the first time nonpublic school locations will be included.
In addition to these developments, MCC secured continued funding in the budget to allow nonpublic student participation in robotics competitions, dual enrollment, and to reimburse schools for the cost of complying with health and safety mandates.
Continued Support for Programs Serving Those in Need Included in State Budget
Budget funding that supports the work of Catholic Charities agencies and other Church organizations that serve the poor and vulnerable will continue next fiscal year following successful MCC advocacy.
The House and Senate provided bipartisan approval for the budget that takes effect October 1, and is awaiting the Governor’s signature.
The state program that provides diapers free-of-charge to families in need will continue at $6.4 million. It provides funding for diapering supplies to be made available for diaper assistance programs, maternity homes, local county offices, and other nonprofit agencies that distribute diapers free of charge.
MCC had previously advocated for expanding the grant to include more organizations that distribute diapers for free. The impact of the program was detailed in a recent Focus published by MCC that shared how the funds helped a Catholic Charities agency start a mobile diaper bank initiative to serve more rural families.
The Fiscal Year 2027 budget will also continue current state support for agencies that care for foster children and serve foster families, which includes several Catholic Charities agencies in Michigan. The new spending plan will also continue funding for agencies that serve homeless and runaway youth, which includes a Catholic agency that is a critical provider to youth in crisis in southwest Michigan.
Lawmakers Clarify State Palliative Care Panel Will Not Discuss Assisted Suicide
To promote life-affirming care for the sick, MCC advocated to exclude assisted suicide from state task force discussions regarding palliative care, under budget language adopted by the Legislature.
The budget—which is awaiting the Governor’s signature—allows the state health department to implement a Palliative Care Advisory Task Force to recommend provisions related to palliative care services in the state.
Palliative care refers to the care provided to those with serious illness or near the end of life, which includes pain and symptom management and addressing a patient’s social, emotional, and spiritual needs. Catholic health care has long supported palliative care because it respects the dignity of each person and works to holistically address the complex needs of those who are sick and suffering.
MCC met with key lawmakers to share concern that the task force could conflate palliative care with assisted suicide – which is the intentional act to prematurely end a person’s life and stands in stark contrast with palliative care. Lawmakers then ensured protective language to exclude assisted suicide from task force discussions and recommendations was then added during the final budget negotiations.
Assisted suicide remains prohibited in Michigan, and has been for nearly 30 years, a decision that was affirmed by Michigan voters.
MCC Joins Statewide Coalition Urging No Vote on Proposal 1 in November
To protect Michigan’s constitution from being rewritten by out-of-state actors and interests, MCC announced in a press release this week that it is encouraging a no vote on the Proposal 1 ballot question this November, which will ask voters if a constitutional convention should be convened.
The current Michigan Constitution requires a proposal to be placed on the ballot every 16 years asking Michiganders if they wish to completely revise the state’s governing document. Michigan voters have soundly rejected the proposal each time it has appeared on the ballot since the 1963 ratification of the current state constitution.
With the nationalization of state-based politics becoming more the norm than the exception, a constitutional convention would likely open Michigan’s governing document to extraordinary out-of-state influence and engagement.
Following a unanimous decision made by the MCC Board of Directors, MCC has joined the statewide nonpartisan coalition Protect MI Constitution to encourage a no vote on the proposal.
As the public policy voice of the Church in Michigan, MCC does not endorse political candidates or parties, but will occasionally take positions on ballot questions that impact the common good at the direction of the Board of Directors.
Bill Protecting Foster Children Benefits Easily Clears House, Senate
Legislation to protect benefits owed to foster children cleared both the House and Senate with MCC support and is headed to the Governor’s desk for her signature.
Senate Bill 18, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), passed the House 107-1 and the Senate 36-0 in votes taken last week.
The bill would stop the state’s practice of seizing and spending money that belongs to foster children, which can include certain federal benefits like Social Security or Supplemental Security Income. It had been estimated that Michigan takes in about $3 million in foster children benefits that it uses to pay for the cost of caring for foster children.
Under Senate Bill 18, the state would keep those benefits in accounts that foster children could access after exiting state supervision, which could help them achieve stable economic footing.
MCC frequently supports legislation to improve the lives of foster children, who are among the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters.
Improved Indigent Defense for Youth One Step Away From Becoming Law
Indigent youth in the justice system would receive better legal defense under a bill headed to the Governor with MCC support.
The legislation—Senate Bill 81, sponsored by Sen. Sue Shink (D-Ann Arbor)—would pave the way for state standards regarding the provision of indigent legal defense for juvenile offenders.
The bill comes as a response to a statewide task force on juvenile justice that found Michigan lacks minimal standards, supports, or resources for juvenile public defense.
Senate Bill 81 passed in both the Senate and House on bipartisan votes and awaits the Governor’s signature to become law.
MCC supports efforts to reform the juvenile justice system as a matter of promoting restorative justice and ensuring adequate state resources for indigent individuals to receive their constitutionally guaranteed right to legal counsel.
MCC Releases New Focus on Faithful Citizenship Ahead of Michigan Elections
As the statewide August primary and the November general elections approach, MCC is again providing resources to help Catholics participate as faithful citizens.
MCC has published the latest edition of Focus, titled Form Your Conscience, Vote with Faith, available both in print at local parishes and online at micatholic.org/election2026.
The publication serves as a reminder that Catholics are called to engage in elections, first by forming their consciences according to the teachings of the Church founded by Jesus Christ, followed by prayerfully and intentionally evaluating the candidates and the issues before casting a vote.
In the upcoming election, voters will choose the state’s next governor, attorney general, secretary of state, one of Michigan’s two U.S. senators, each of the state’s 13 congressional representatives, and all 148 state legislators.
The Focus provides reflection questions for Catholics to consider in forming their conscience as well as practical tips for finding accurate political information online while being mindful of the proliferation of bad or fake information.
For parish leaders or staff of Catholic organizations, MCC has also published the 2026 Election Year Guidelines.
The guidelines are intended to help address questions about election-related activities at Catholic facilities, mindful of their tax-exempt nonprofit status and the Church’s commitment to speak to issues and avoid partisan activities. The publication lists both prohibited and acceptable election activities related to issues such as engagement with political candidates and use of political signage.
The guidelines also reiterate MCC Board of Directors policy prohibiting the distribution of election materials, except for those published by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, MCC, or the local bishop. The MCC Board of Directors is chaired by the Archbishop of Detroit and consists of the diocesan bishops in Michigan, as well as appointed clergy, religious, and lay members.