2025 House Bill 4556 / 2026 Public Act 10

Education: examinations; certain requirements concerning the Michigan merit examination; modify.

An act to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled “An act to provide a system of public instruction and elementary and secondary schools; to revise, consolidate, and clarify the laws relating to elementary and secondary education; to provide for the organization, regulation, and maintenance of schools, school districts, public school academies, intermediate school districts, and other public school entities; to prescribe rights, powers, duties, and privileges of schools, school districts, public school academies, intermediate school districts, and other public school entities; to provide for the regulation of school teachers and certain other school employees; to provide for school elections and to prescribe powers and duties with respect thereto; to provide for the levy and collection of taxes; to provide for the borrowing of money and issuance of bonds and other evidences of indebtedness; to establish a fund and provide for expenditures from that fund; to make appropriations for certain purposes; to provide for and prescribe the powers and duties of certain state departments, the state board of education, and certain other boards and officials; to provide for licensure of boarding schools; to prescribe penalties; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,” by amending section 1279g (MCL 380.1279g), as amended by 2025 PA 57.

AI Analysis – Experimental

House Bill No. 4556 updates the administration, content, and reporting requirements of the Michigan Merit Examination to better align with state standards, streamline testing procedures, and ensure accurate, timely feedback for students, parents, and schools.

Introduced in the House

June 5, 2025

Introduced by Rep. Tom Kunse (R-100) and three co-sponsors

Co-sponsored by Reps. Matt Koleszar (D-22), Regina Weiss (D-5) and Gina Johnsen (R-78)

Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

Sept. 24, 2025

Reported with substitute H-2

Dec. 17, 2025

Substitute H-2 concurred in by voice vote

Substitute H-3 offered by Rep. Samantha Steckloff (D-19)

The substitute failed by voice vote

Dec. 18, 2025

Passed in the House 101 to 0 (details)

Motion to give immediate effect by Rep. Bryan Posthumus (R-90)

The motion prevailed by voice vote

Received in the Senate

Jan. 14, 2026

Referred to the Committee on Education

Feb. 11, 2026

Reported with substitute S-3

Feb. 12, 2026

Referred to the Committee of the Whole

Feb. 24, 2026

Reported with substitute S-3

Substitute S-3 concurred in by voice vote

March 18, 2026

Passed in the Senate 24 to 9 (details)

Received in the House

March 18, 2026

April 21, 2026

Returned to the Senate

Received in the Senate

April 22, 2026

Motion to give immediate effect by Sen. Sam Singh (D-28)

The motion prevailed by voice vote

Received in the House

April 22, 2026

April 30, 2026

Substitute S-3 concurred in 105 to 0 (details)

Signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

May 14, 2026