LANSING, Mich., Jan. 8, 2026 — Today the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus acknowledged Attorney General Dana Nessel’s Opinion No. 7328, which addresses the legality of the House Appropriations Committee’s recent action to disapprove previously authorized Fiscal Year 2025 work project funding. In doing so, the MLBC emphasized that people should come before politics.

Attorney General Nessel concluded that the disapproval mechanism used under MCL 18.1451a(3) functions as an unconstitutional “legislative committee veto,” violating the Michigan Constitution’s separation of powers requirements and the bicameralism and presentment requirements for legislative action. The opinion further concludes that the unconstitutional veto provision may be severed, leaving the remainder of the work project framework intact.

“This opinion confirms what we said in real time: you cannot unwind duly-enacted budget decisions through a committee maneuver that cuts the people out of the process and cuts communities off from services,” said state Rep. Amos O’Neal (D–Saginaw), chair of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus. “The House Appropriations Committee’s Republican majority voted to claw back $645 million in previously approved work project funding. It did so after these funds had been negotiated, passed by the Legislature, and signed into law. And it did so while denying lawmakers our right to ask questions and without engaging Black Caucus members who serve on the committee.”

The MLBC continues to condemn the process that produced these cuts: an approach that proceeded without  debate or testimony before the vote, despite the profound impact on local communities, providers, municipalities and families across Michigan.

The MLBC also recognizes that Senate Appropriations Chair Sarah Anthony (D–Lansing), a vice-chair of the MLBC, submitted the formal request to the Attorney General seeking clarity on the legality of the House’s actions. 

“The opinion issued today by the Attorney General is a lifeline for the countless non-profit organizations and local governments that have been left in limbo for weeks. I’m talking about county land banks forced to halt affordable housing projects, community centers unable to answer questions from parents about whether their child’s Head Start program will be open this week, and school districts scrambling to make their balance sheet whole — all because House Republicans made a unilateral and unconstitutional decision about who is and isn’t worthy of receiving contractually agreed upon state funding. As Senate Appropriations Chair, and as a legislator who cares about delivering on the promises I made for the people I represent and to all Michiganders, we call for immediate release of the funds so these essential projects can move forward,” said state Sen. Sarah Anthony (D–Lansing).

In the wake of the committee vote, the MLBC joined with partner caucuses in a joint press conference to condemn the cuts and to reaffirm our commitment to fight for full restoration of these dollars and for a transparent, constitutional budget process that does not silence impacted communities or their elected representatives.

Moving forward, the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus calls for:

  • A public, transparent process for any future changes of this magnitude — one that includes meaningful input from lawmakers representing the districts most impacted.
  • Legislative reforms to ensure no single committee can again attempt to override enacted appropriations in a manner inconsistent with constitutional requirements.

“They tried to silence us, however, the MLBC will continue to stand up and speak out while working with our legislative partners, local stakeholders and affected organizations to protect these investments and to ensure our communities are not treated as an afterthought,” O’Neal said. “Budgets should reflect the needs of the people, not political gamesmanship.”

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