MEMBERS:
SEN. ERIKA GEISS, MAJORITY VICE CHAIR
SEN. STEPHANIE CHANG
SEN. DARRIN CAMILLERI
SEN. KRISTEN MCDONALD RIVET
SEN. JOHN DAMOOSE, MINORITY VICE CHAIR
SEN. RUTH JOHNSON
THE SENATE
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
SENATOR DAYNA POLEHANKI
CHAIR
310 CAPITOL BUILDING
P.O. BOX 30036
LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-7536
PHONE: (517) 373-7350
FAX: (517) 373-9228
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
November 13, 2024
A meeting of the Senate Committee on Education was scheduled for Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at 11:00
a.m., in the 1100 Room of the Binsfeld Office Building.
The agenda summary is as follows:
1. Reported HB 5231 (Rep. Weiss) with recommendation.
2. Reported HB 5232 (Rep. Young) with recommendation.
3. Reported HB 5233 (Rep. Steckloff) with recommendation.
4. Reported HB 5234 (Rep. Scott) with recommendation.
5. Reported HB 5269 (Rep. Koleszar) with recommendation.
6. Reported SB 943 (S-1) (Sen. Polehanki) with recommendation.
7. Reported SB 944 (S-1) (Sen. Bayer) with recommendation.
8. Reported SB 946 (S-1) (Sen. Camilleri) with recommendation.
9. Reported SB 947 (S-1) (Sen. Polehanki) with recommendation.
The Chair called the meeting to order at 11:10 a.m.. She instructed the Clerk to call the roll. At that time, the
following members were present: Chair Polehanki, Sen.(s) Geiss, Chang, Camilleri, Damoose and Johnson, a
quorum was present.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Geiss to adopt the meeting minutes from October 23, 2024. Without
objection, the minutes were adopted.
The Chair made a motion to excuse absent members from the meeting. Without objection, Sen. McDonald Rivet
was excused from the meeting.
The Chair invited the following individuals to present testimony regarding HB 5231, HB 5232, HB 5233, HB
5234 and HB 5269:
Rep. Regina Weiss – Support
Rep. Matt Koleszar – Support
The Chair read the cards of those individuals not wishing to testify before the committee regarding HB 5231,
HB 5232, HB 5233, HB 5234 and HB 5269:
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Mike Latvis, Wayne RESA – Support
Anne Kuhnen, Michigan League for Public Policy – Support
Dr. David Michelson, Michigan Education Association – Support
John Severson, Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators – Support
David Randels, Oakland Schools – Support
Dwayne Gill, Detroit Public School Community District – Support
Todd Tennis, AFT - MI – Support
Beth DeShone, GLEP Education Fund – Opposition
The Chair read the cards of those individuals not wishing to testify before the committee regarding HB 5269:
Jennifer Smith, Michigan Association of School Boards – Support
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Geiss to report HB 5231 to the floor with recommendation that it pass.
The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Polehanki, Sen.(s) Geiss, Chang, and Camilleri.
Nays: Sen.(s) Damoose.
The motion prevailed and the bill was reported.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Geiss to report HB 5232 to the floor with recommendation that it pass.
The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Polehanki, Sen.(s) Geiss, Chang, and Camilleri.
Nays: Sen.(s) Damoose.
The motion prevailed and the bill was reported.
At 11:16 a.m., Sen. Ruth Johnson entered the meeting.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Geiss to report HB 5233 to the floor with recommendation that it pass.
The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Polehanki, Sen.(s) Geiss, Chang, and Camilleri.
Nays: Sen.(s) Damoose and Johnson.
The motion prevailed and the bill was reported.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Geiss to report HB 5234 to the floor with recommendation that it pass.
The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Polehanki, Sen.(s) Geiss, Chang, and Camilleri.
Nays: Sen.(s) Damoose and Johnson.
The motion prevailed and the bill was reported.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Geiss to report HB 5269 to the floor with recommendation that it pass.
The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Polehanki, Sen.(s) Geiss, Chang, and Camilleri.
Nays: Sen.(s) Damoose and Johnson.
The motion prevailed and the bill was reported.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Geiss to adopt the (S-1) version of SB 943. The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Polehanki, Sen.(s) Geiss, Chang, Camilleri, and Damoose.
Nays: None
Pass: Sen.(s) Johnson.
The motion prevailed and the (S-1) was adopted.
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The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Geiss to adopt the (S-1) version of SB 944. The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Polehanki, Sen.(s) Geiss, Chang, Camilleri, and Damoose.
Nays: None
Pass: Sen.(s) Johnson.
The motion prevailed and the (S-1) was adopted.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Geiss to adopt the (S-1) version of SB 946. The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Polehanki, Sen.(s) Geiss, Chang, Camilleri, and Damoose.
Nays: None
Pass: Sen.(s) Johnson.
The motion prevailed and the (S-1) was adopted.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Geiss to adopt the (S-1) version of SB 947. The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Polehanki, Sen.(s) Geiss, Chang, Camilleri, and Damoose.
Nays: None
Pass: Sen.(s) Johnson.
The motion prevailed and the (S-1) was adopted.
The Chair invited the following individuals to present testimony regarding SB 943 and SB 944:
Sen. Dayna Polehanki – Support
The Chair invited the following individuals to present testimony regarding SB 947:
Sen. Dayna Polehanki – Support
The Chair invited the following individuals to present testimony regarding SB 946:
Sen. Darrin Camilleri – Support
The Chair invited the following individuals to present testimony regarding SB 943, SB 944, SB 946 and SB
947:
Dr. Pamela Pugh and Dr. Sue Carnell, Michigan Department of Education – Support
Dr. Cassandra Ulbrich – No Position
Gary Miron, Western Michigan University – No Position
Michael Van Beek, Mackinac Center – Opposition
Hon. Buzz Thomas, MAPSA – Opposition
Josh Cowen – No Position
Due to time constraints, the following individuals were unable to present testimony regarding SB 943, SB 944,
SB 946, and SB 947:
Dan Quisenberry and Laura Carpenter, MAPSA – Opposition
The Chair read the cards of those individuals not wishing to testify before the committee regarding SB 943, SB
944, SB 946 and SB 947:
Beth DeShone, GLEP Education Fund – Opposition
John Severson, Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators – Support
Dr. David Michelson, Michigan Education Association – Support
David Randels, Oakland Schools – Support
Dwayne Gill, Detroit Public School Community District – Support
Todd Tennis, AFT Michigan – Support
Jennifer Smith, Michigan Association of School Boards – Support
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Mike Frederick, East Shore Leadership Academy, Oakland Academy, Berrien Spring Public Schools,
Vestaburg Community Schools, Uplift MI School – Opposition
Danielle Sirianni, Landmark Academy – Opposition
Jason Mancini, Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers – Opposition
Megan DeKraker, National Heritage Academies – Opposition
Marcus Keech, Grand Rapids Chamber – Opposition
Peter Spadafore, Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity – Support
Anne Kuhnen, Michigan League for Public Policy – Support
Mike Latvis, Wayne RESA – Support
Matt Scheuller, Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators – Support
Molly Macek, Mackinac Center – Opposition
Moneak Parker, Detroit Voice for School Choice – Opposition
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Geiss to report the (S-1) version of SB 943 to the floor with
recommendation that it pass. The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Polehanki, Sen.(s) Geiss, Chang, and Camilleri.
Nays: Sen.(s) Damoose and Johnson.
The motion prevailed and the bill was reported.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Geiss to report the (S-1) version of SB 944 to the floor with
recommendation that it pass. The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Polehanki, Sen.(s) Geiss, Chang, and Camilleri.
Nays: Sen.(s) Damoose and Johnson.
The motion prevailed and the bill was reported.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Camilleri to report the (S-1) version of SB 946 to the floor with
recommendation that it pass. The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Polehanki, Sen.(s) Geiss, Chang, and Camilleri.
Nays: Sen.(s) Damoose and Johnson.
The motion prevailed and the bill was reported.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Geiss to report the (S-1) version of SB 947 to the floor with
recommendation that it pass. The vote was as follows:
Yeas: Chair Polehanki, Sen.(s) Geiss, Chang, and Camilleri.
Nays: Sen.(s) Damoose and Johnson.
The motion prevailed and the bill was reported.
There being no further business before the committee, the Chair moved to adjourn the committee. Without
objection, the committee was adjourned at 1:13 p.m.
Date Adopted by Committee: 12/10/2024
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