Michigan News And Capitol Report, Week Ending Friday, February 20th, 2026

Panel Gets Early Taste Of Legislative Pork 

A House panel kicked off hearings on Wednesday on 200 local projects — at least for now — that legislators want funded out of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget. 

Now in state law after the FY 2026 budget, the process for approving Legislative-Directed Spending Item (LDSI, known as pork to others) is no longer new territory. House members know they must go through a hearing in front of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) if they want their project considered for the final cut. 

The hearing showcased more than a half dozen local funding requests from organizations and their sponsored representatives. Everybody was given five minutes to testify. Another five minutes were allotted for questions.  

Requests included Rep. Mark Tisdel (R-Rochester), backing Automation Alley’s Project DIAMOnD to expand a statewide network of industrial 3D printers; Rep. Steve Frisbie (R-Battle Creek), seeking to restore funding for Innovate Albion’s STEM center elevator and accessibility upgrades and Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw), supporting the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative to strengthen teacher pipelines and retention. 

Rep. Cam Cavitt (R-Cheboygan) then advocated for Target Alpena’s regional housing and economic development hub and Alpena Community College’s expansion of its line worker training facilities. Rep. Kathy Schmaltz (R-Jackson), wrapped up the hearing with her sponsored proposals for a Jackson County Airport aviation maintenance trade school for high schoolers and the Save Our Youth, Help Them Prosper mentorship and youth employment program. 

Subcommittee Chair Nancy Jenkins-Arno (R-Clayton), said this early start is intended to prevent the kind of last-minute rush that marked last year’s process. She said more than 200 LDSI requests have already been submitted, though she noted that number is still evolving under the current rolling deadline structure, which allows proposals to be filed up to 45 days before the budget is passed. 

To accommodate the volume, Jenkins-Arno said the subcommittee anticipates holding several more hearings, potentially including additional or special meeting days.  

She contrasted the current process with her previous time in the Legislature, saying that in earlier years, local projects were often funded only if money remained at the end of the budget cycle. 

“It was just kind of like, if there’s money left over at the end of the budget, oh, let’s find a project to put that money toward,” she said. “Now we’re actually looking into what the projects are — are they legit? Are they something that we should be putting money toward? And I think it’s a good process.” 

Bellino: Donating An Organ Shouldn't Cost An Arm And A Leg, Too 

Without Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) giving him days off for pre-operation appointments, Sen. Joseph Bellino Jr. (R-Monroe) said he could never have been an organ donor to his brother-in-law, to whom he gave a kidney in summer 2024.  

On Wednesday, the Senate Health Policy Committee heard testimony on Bellino's SB 301, allowing Michigan employers to claim income tax credits worth 100% of wages they pay to a worker gone on "organ donation leave." The time period related to the claim could be up to 12 weeks for the employee on leave, taking place before, during and after the organ donation.  

During the meeting, Bellino explained how, in December 2014, his brother-in-law shared on Facebook that he needed a kidney donation, and wasn't a good candidate for dialysis. 

According to the American Transplant Foundation, dialysis treatment is a "less-than-perfect replacement for an actual human kidney." Also, because kidneys from diseased donors don't work immediately in some cases, patients may need dialysis before the kidney starts functioning. 

"I put my name on the list. Now, I got to be honest, it was two or three days after it came out. I waited for a bunch of nieces and nephews who are younger than I am to get on," Bellino said. "But soon they were all rejected. Their blood type, they wanted to have more children … all kinds of things. And then it got to me. Then a few months later, I was going to give a kidney."  

Bellino said the real barrier preventing many individuals from becoming donors is the loss of income during recovery.  

He described SB 301 as a corporate income tax credit for Michigan employers providing fully paid leave to employees donating organs. He added that the leave must be offered in addition to existing benefits like paid time off or vacation, and must be verified by a physician.  

"This legislation does not mandate employers participate. It simply creates an incentive. Employers who choose to step up and support employees making an extraordinary life-saving decision receive a tax credit in their return," Bellino said.  

Bellino gave a special shoutout to Brinks, putting time on the Senate's schedule last term for him to talk to doctors and make pre-operation appointments ahead of the transplant operation.  

"In fact, the day of my last pre-op was a voting day, and I went to her and said 'look, the doctors need me there all day long.' She changed the day for me," he said. "SB 301 reflects a simple principle — if someone is willing to save a life, the least we can do is ensure they're not financially penalized for doing so."  

SB 301 was also supported by business groups like the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and the Detroit Regional Chamber.  

One of the testifiers was David Galbenski, co-founder of the Living Liver Foundation, a small association aimed at educating folks at becoming living donors. Galbenski, a Grosse Pointe resident, received a liver donation from his brother-in-law six years ago.  

Galbenski said Michigan has already shown what meaningful progress looks like, such as through the 2023 passage of legislation protecting living donors from discrimination by life, disability and long-term care insurers.  

He also mentioned the passage of reform in 2024, creating a one-time nonrefundable credit of up to $10,000 for unreimbursed donation-related costs, like travel, child care and lost wages. The tax credit kicked off at the start of last year.  

Galbenski said that SB 301 fills a gap "for a very practical problem with the existing tax credit." 

"Because the tax credit is non-refundable and cannot be carried forward — talking about the $10,000 state tax credit — its value depends on how much state income tax a family owes in a single year," he said. "Most donors will never owe the $10,000 in state income tax, so even if their donation-related costs reach that amount, they may (only be) able to claim a fraction of the credit."  

He said that many donors need four to 12 weeks away from work to recover, and when wages stop during leave, families' finances are hit immediately.  

Dr. Mona Doshi, a kidney specialist with University of Michigan Health, said that live kidney transplants can save Medicare and Medicaid taxpayer dollars. For example, dialysis costs around $60,000 annually, while the upfront cost of a kidney transplant is a high of $100,000 due to the surgery.  

"But thereafter, the cost is $10,000 a year just for the medications. So after three years, dialysis is far more expensive than kidney transplant, and far inferior treatment than kidney transplant," Doshi said.  

Doshi described meeting a woman who wanted to donate to her daughter. However, after hearing she would need four to six weeks off of work to do so, the mother told Doshi she couldn't be her daughter's living donor, as she lived paycheck to paycheck and couldn't afford the time off. 

"That was very appalling, and that's what got me into this advocacy role," Doshi said. "Also, the time off depends on the job. So if they have a desk job, then perhaps some can even return (in) three weeks, four weeks after donation, and some may take longer."  

Based on surveys, Doshi said it's estimated that the average loss of income was around $5,000 per donor in 2024. 

Proposed Statewide Regulations For Food Trucks Hit The Road 

Right now, a food truck could be cleared to operate in one township, then roll into the next one the next day with the same equipment and, be told it needs a different inspection, a different fee, or no inspection at all. 

It's that patchwork that drove Rep. Joseph Aragona (R-Clinton Township)'s food truck bill package for HB 5450 and HB 5451, which both moved again in the House Regulatory Reform Committee on Thursday with the second bill adopting a substitute (H-1).  

The goal, he said, is straightforward: if a truck is properly inspected once, it should be treated as inspected across Michigan for the year — instead of forcing operators to chase down different municipal requirements and narrow inspection windows.  

In the Jan. 22 hearing when the bills were introduced, Aragona described hearing about a municipality that considered inspecting food trucks only during a five-day window, and if a truck missed it, it couldn't operate for the year.  

John Griffin, the owner of Olly's Mini Donuts, argued that food trucks are “the smallest of small businesses when it comes to operating," and that having to be concerned about the health policies when moving from one town to another adds another burden to an already all-hands job.  

Supporters on Jan. 22 also argued the bills aren’t just about convenience — they’re about safety and consistent enforcement. William Smith and Jim Williams of the Michigan Fire Inspectors Society told lawmakers that Michigan does not have a single statewide fire-prevention standard specific to food trucks and that enforcement varies widely across communities. As trucks travel from city to city, they said, that inconsistency can create gaps between jurisdictions. 

One of their biggest concerns was propane systems, emphasizing that regular pressure testing is critical to identifying gas leaks before they become dangerous. Inspectors said they have seen incidents in Michigan tied to mobile food units and argued that consistent application of inspection standards would reduce risk for both operators and the public. 

Aragona said lawmakers initially explored a QR-code verification system that would allow local officials to quickly confirm a truck’s inspection status, but the idea was removed with the substitute over cost concerns. Under the current approach, operators would instead carry and display inspection documentation on the truck as proof they are cleared. 

He pointed to examples of brick-and-mortar restaurants launching food trucks to expand their reach and participate in local festivals and neighborhood events. 

“Food trucks can be their way of being a part of the community,” Aragona said. “So it's going to help those small businesses, but also the smaller businesses that are primarily food trucks and lead to growth and then horizontal expansion by brick-and-mortars.” 

House Advances Workforce, Public Health, Local Government Reforms With Broad Bipartisan Support 

The House moved a series of workforce, public health and local government bills Thursday afternoon, with all five bills drawing strong bipartisan backing and none receiving more than 12 no votes.  

Among the measures was HB 5317, sponsored by Rep. Cam Cavitt (R-Cheboygan), which would allow counties with fewer than 100,000 residents to reduce the size of their county parks and recreation commissions beginning in 2027. The change is optional and gives smaller counties flexibility to shrink appointed membership from seven to four. The bill passed unanimously.  

“We often talk about cutting waste, fraud and abuse at the state level, but we seem to overlook local officials,” Cavitt said before the vote. “Across the state, they have been asking for tools to cut the necessary costs and this bill responds directly to that need.” 

Lawmakers also approved HB 4402, sponsored by Rep. Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington), which requires the Department of Health to develop and distribute educational materials on cytomegalovirus (CMV) and adds congenital CMV to Michigan's mandatory newborn screening panel and awareness of the virus, which can cause birth defects when transmitted during pregnancy.  

That bill passed 102-6, with Reps. James DeSana (R-Carleton), Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers), Brad Paquette (R-Niles), Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor), Rachelle Smit (R-Shelbyville) and Donni Steele (R-Lake Orion) voting against the bill. 

In a workforce-focused vote, the House adopted Rep. Jaime Greene (R-Richmond)'s sponsored HB 4279, which allows qualifying military training already completed by Michigan National Guard members to count toward a registered apprenticeship credential. 

Under the bill, the pathway would be administered through the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, which already oversees apprenticeship and workforce development programs in the state. On-the-job training would occur during existing duty hours, and any use of GI Bill benefits would rely on existing federal education programs. 

The bill passed 99-9, with Reps. Julie Brixie (D-Okemos), Carra, Emily Dievendorf (D-Lansing), Tonya Myers Phillips (D-Detroit), Veronica Paiz (D-Harper Woods), Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia), Rheingans, Dylan Wegela (D-Garden City) and Regina Weiss (D-Oak Park) voting against it. 

The last two were a pair of tie-barred bills, HB 4079 sponsored by Rep. Bill G. Schuette (R-Midland) and HB 4080 sponsored by Rep. Mike Hoadley (R-Au Gres), updating the state's special assessment deferment program for seniors and permanently disabled homeowners. 

Modifying income eligibility thresholds allows structured partial payments and clarify interest provisions, while continuing to defer certain special assessments until a property is sold or the owner dies. HB 4080 passed 98-10, with Reps. Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield), Ann Bollin (R-Brighton), Julie Brixie (D-Okemos), Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers), Morgan Foreman (D-Ann Arbor), Sarah Lightner (R-Springport), Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor), Rheingans, Steele and Jimmie Wilson Jr. (D-Ypsilanti) voting no.       

Reps. Bollin, Brixie, Carra, Kimberly Edwards (D-Eastpointe), Foreman, Lightner, Sharon MacDonell (D-Troy), Morgan, Paiz, Rheingans, Steele and Wilson voted no to HB 4079.