LANSING, Mich., Dec. 18, 2025 — After Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee voted to disapprove more than $644 million in previously authorized FY 2025 work project funding, State Rep. Will Snyder (D-Muskegon) introduced House Bill 5389 on Wednesday with 50 co-sponsorships and bipartisan support. HB 5389 would close the undemocratic budget maneuver that allows one chamber’s appropriations committee to deny funding without any oversight or review from the other legislative chamber or the governor.
House Republicans used this procedure to slash funding for programs designed to, among other things, improve Michigan’s infrastructure, provide equipment and training for firefighters, renovate and upgrade museums, supply wigs for children with cancer, and support new mothers purchasing diapers and baby formula. In their brash effort to deny the funding, Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee allowed zero testimony or questions before the vote and provided no details about the programs being cut.
After introducing HB 5389 to reform the denial process so that both chambers’ Appropriations Committees must review and vote on any denials, Rep. Snyder, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement:
“This legislation will amend the Management and Budget Act to require approval from the Appropriations Committees in both legislative chambers before any work project can be disapproved. Last week’s vote to unilaterally revoke $645 million in previously allocated funds by a single committee would have never happened if this commonsense law had been in place.
“In a complicated, rule-driven environment like the legislature, bad procedures create crippling loopholes. In this instance, we saw just how disastrous bad procedures can be. I’m working to change this law, not only because it was used improperly, but because we never want to see this happen again.
“And when I say we, I really mean it. My bill has wide support, with 50 co-sponsors, which, for those who aren’t around here much to know, is a very high number. It even includes three Republican representatives.
“It is critically important that we do our best to create a system that is as transparent, as accountable and as ethical as we can while also rebuilding the relationship that’s allowed us to trust the process. House Republicans, by slashing these projects, in this manner, have eroded trust in our legislative system. How can Michiganders rely on the state to support them, when we can barely trust each other to work in good faith?
“Let’s fix what’s broken. Let’s improve our process. Let’s put real people and real issues before divisive partisan politics. Let’s make a difference.”
###