Holland Reporter

State Representative Matt Hall of Michigan has accused Senate Democrats of misleading the public regarding the K-12 budget. He argued that the House plan prioritizes students by funding essential services such as universal meals. Hall made these remarks on X, a social media platform.

"I'm sick of the lies that have been pushed out by the Senate Democrats about our K-12 budget," said Matthew Richard Hall, State Representative from Michigan. "They know parents are passionate about their children's well-being and are using that against them. The House budget would place, in a single funding category (Section 22f), essential items—INCLUDING universal school breakfast & lunch. It's about politicians vs. kids, and right now, Senate Dems are putting politics first."

In August 2025, Michigan's K-12 school funding remained unresolved as both House Republicans and Senate Democrats passed nearly equal base funding plans of $21.9 billion and $21.8 billion, respectively. However, they reached an impasse over categorical programs like free school meals and mental health services. This deadlock left school districts uncertain as they approached the fall semester and raised concerns about a potential government shutdown if no agreement is reached by October 1, according to Big Rapids News.

The House Fiscal Agency and the Michigan Department of Education reported that the House GOP's 2025 K-12 plan sets a record per-pupil foundation allowance of $10,025 but consolidates various programs into Section 22f. Educators have expressed concerns that combining categorical programs into one payment could diminish targeted support for vulnerable students.

Michigan currently spends approximately $16,208 per student, ranking it 28th nationally and 24th in combined state-local education funding. In comparison, Ohio spends about $16,960 per student, Wisconsin $16,285, and Minnesota $17,244. This places Michigan behind most Midwestern peers in terms of per-pupil investment, according to data from the Education Data Initiative.

Matt Hall was born in 1983 and has been representing Michigan’s 42nd District since 2019. He became Speaker of the House in 2025 and has focused on conservative priorities such as education reform, regulatory relief, and public safety while asserting strong leadership in budget negotiations.