HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE
REP. NANCY DEBOER
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, December 17,
2025
10:30 AM
Room 327, House Office
Building
The House Committee on Education and Workforce was called to order by Chair DeBoer.
The Chair requested attendance to be called:
Present: Reps. DeBoer, Linting, Paquette, Fox, Kunse, St. Germaine, Pavlov, Wilson,
Koleszar, Weiss and Byrnes.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Representative Linting moved to adopt the meeting minutes from December 10, 2025. There being
no objection, the motion prevailed with unanimous consent.
The Chair laid HB 5044 before the committee:
HB 5044
(Rep. Wendzel)
A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled "The
revised school code," (MCL 380.1 to
380.1852) by adding section 1178b.
Michele Eaddy, representing the Thrun Law Firm, testified in opposition to HB 5044. Questions
and discussions followed.
Olivia Ponte, Legislative Liaison for the Michigan Department of Education, Rebecca McIntyre,
Assistant Director of the Michigan Department of Education & Amy Matthews, Director,
Statewide Autism Resources and Training (START) Project, gave an overview presentation of the
guidelines for ABA Therapy in schools. Questions and discussion followed.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 5044, but did not wish to speak:
Randall Swanson.
Angela Khater.
Steven Donatelli, representing Akoya Behavioral Health.
Michael Tomak, representing Pavo Behavioral Therapy, LLC.
The Chair laid HB 5154 before the committee:
HB 5154
(Rep. Smit)
A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled "The
revised school code," (MCL 380.1 to
380.1852) by adding section 1290.
Representative Wilson explained the proposed substitute (H-1) for HB 5154.
Representative Wilson moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HB 5154. The motion did not prevail
4-0-7:
UNFAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Wilson, Koleszar, Weiss and Byrnes.
Nays: None.
Pass: Reps. DeBoer, Linting, Paquette, Fox, Kunse, St. Germaine and Pavlov.
Representative Linting moved to report out HB 5154 with recommendation. The motion prevailed
7-4-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. DeBoer, Linting, Paquette, Fox, Kunse, St. Germaine and Pavlov.
Nays: Reps. Wilson, Koleszar, Weiss and Byrnes.
Pass: None.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair DeBoer adjourned the meeting at
11:56 AM.
Representative Nancy DeBoer, Chair
Brittany Middaugh
Committee Clerk
bmiddaugh@house.mi.gov