Vote Record Update

House Bill 4013: Strengthens Protections for Michigan Land Owners

YES – Michigan landowners deserve clear, enforceable protections against trespassing. This bill updates the law to require “No Trespassing” signs every 250 feet, making it easier for law enforcement to take action. It also ensures that farmland, woods, and other open areas are fully protected – even if they aren’t fenced in. At the same time, it keeps common-sense exceptions, like allowing people to fish in public streams or retrieve a hunting dog without a firearm. HB 4013 is a straightforward, balanced fix that respects property rights and helps prevent unwanted access without punishing responsible outdoor users.

PASSED: 103-1

House Bill 4081: Gives Landowners More Flexibility When Dividing Large Parcels

YES – Under current law, a 10-acre parcel can only be split into 4 lots. This bill increases that limit to 10, making it easier for families, farmers, and small developers to use their land more effectively. It also allows cities and townships to permit additional splits if that’s what their local ordinance allows. This is a practical way to support rural growth, housing options, and property rights—while keeping control in the hands of local communities.

PASSED: 96-6

House Bill 4156: Aligning Graduation Requirements with Real World Skills

YES – this bill updates Michigan’s high school graduation requirements to better prepare students for life after school. This bill allows students to count courses like accounting, computer science, business math, or career and technical education (CTE) programs toward their four required math credits. It also permits instruction in computer literacy, keyboarding, web design, computer applications, or programming to count toward the four required science credits. Additionally, the bill introduces a new half-credit requirement in workforce development, covering essential skills such as résumé writing. These changes ensure that students gain practical, real-world skills that are directly applicable to today’s job market and higher education pathways.​

HB4156 PASSED 57-43.

House Bills 4157-58: Helps School Districts More Accurately Measure Student Academic Performance

YES – both bills let up to 90 school districts try out a new way to test students—with shorter, more frequent tests during the year instead of just relying on the M-STEP. This gives teachers faster feedback and helps schools choose tests that actually fit their students’ needs. HB 4158 updates the law to support this new pilot program. These bills give schools more control and help students stay on track.

HB4157: PASSED 57-48; HB4158: PASSED 57-48

House Bill 4159: Incorporates Proven, Research-Based Methods to Teach Children How to Read

YES – this bill ensures our schools incorporate effective reading instruction that teaches students how to read, not just what to read. Phonics is essential because it teaches children how to connect letters with their sounds, enabling them to decode words and become confident readers. This will help students read unfamiliar words, improve spelling, and build overall reading comprehension.

HB4159 PASSED 65-40.

House Bill 4179: Increases Gift Amounts for Life Insurance Policy from $5 to $50

House Bill 4179 will make it possible for people shopping for life insurance to receive small tokens of appreciation—like a $25 gift card, a nice mug, or a calendar—from their agent, making the process a little more pleasant and personal. It reflects the cost of living today and lets agents show gratitude to clients in a way that feels meaningful, helping to build stronger and more trusting relationships between families and their insurance providers. This change can make working with an insurance agent feel more positive and valued, while still keeping limits in place so gifts remain reasonable.

HB4179 PASSED 87-17

New Co-Sponsorships

Banning Sanctuary Cities in Michigan

One bill I gladly co-sponsored bans sanctuary city policies in our state. The idea that local jurisdictions can selectively ignore federal immigration law is not just misguided — it’s dangerous. Sanctuary policies have allowed thousands of criminal illegal aliens to remain in American communities despite ICE detainers and active warrants. Right here in Michigan, some communities have declared they will not cooperate with ICE — putting ideology ahead of safety. This bill makes it clear: no city, county, or township can shield criminals from accountability simply because they are in the country illegally. Lawbreakers must be held accountable for their actions.

Ending Government Benefits for Illegal Immigrants

I’ve also co-sponsored legislation to stop illegal immigrants from accessing taxpayer-funded benefits in Michigan. The numbers are sobering: the Center for Immigration Studies estimates Michigan spends over $1.1 billion per year on illegal immigration, and FAIR reports that national costs have soared to over $150 billion. These are resources that should be used to fund core government services for lawful U.S. citizens. Right now, thousands of Michigan families are being forced to choose between heating bills, groceries, and medications, while illegal immigrants are quietly accessing benefits they were never entitled to. It’s unjust, it’s unsustainable, and it needs to stop.

Restoring Local Control over Solar Installations

Local control is a principle worth fighting for — especially when it comes to how our neighborhoods look and function. That’s why I co-sponsored legislation that protects homeowners associations (HOAs) and condo boards from being overridden by state bureaucrats when it comes to solar panel installations. Lansing has pushed mandates that take away the ability of gated communities to set reasonable, locally approved design standards for rooftops and shared properties. Whether or not someone wants solar panels on their home should be a local decision — not a top-down mandate. This bill restores their right to create and enforce community guidelines that reflect the will of the people who actually live there – not Lansing.

Banning Dangerous Gain-of-Function Research

I’ve co-sponsored legislation to ban gain-of-function research in Michigan — the dangerous practice of altering viruses in a lab to make them more contagious or more deadly. This type of high-risk experimentation threatens lives, undermines public trust, and puts academic ambition ahead of public safety. Shockingly, Michigan universities and research labs are still allowed to conduct these experiments, often with taxpayer funding. There is no excuse for allowing government-funded labs to play with viruses that could cause widespread harm. This bill puts a stop to it and sends a clear message: public safety must come first.

Prohibit Schools From Providing and Selling Food that Contains Artificial Colors

​I’ve co-sponsored legislation to prohibit Michigan schools from serving or selling foods containing certain artificial dyes, including Red 40, Yellow 6, and Blue 2—chemicals commonly found in brightly colored snacks and cereals. While many countries have already banned these additives, they remain present in U.S. school meals. This bill aims to ensure that taxpayer-funded school food supports our children’s health by eliminating unnecessary and potentially harmful ingredients from their diets.​

Committee Updates

Subpoenaing Clerk Training Materials from the Secretary of State

In addition to these legislative efforts, I’ve taken action through the House Oversight Committee to demand transparency from the Michigan Secretary of State. We’ve issued a subpoena request for the clerk training materials distributed across the state and other important materials.

Why does this matter? Because when it comes to elections, the process must be as trustworthy as the result. We’ve heard growing concerns from voters across Michigan — from both parties — about how clerks are being trained, whether all counties are applying standards equally, and whether certain outside groups have undue access to decision-making. If the Secretary of State’s office has nothing to hide, these documents should be released quickly and without resistance. But if there is evidence of bias, political interference, or training materials that cross legal lines, then the public deserves to know. This isn’t about rehashing past elections — it’s about restoring faith in future ones.

Demanding Answers on How MDHHS Verifies Citizenship Status Before Issuance of Medicaid Benefits

My office also launched a legislative oversight inquiry into the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), inquiring about protocols MDHHS has in place to verify the citizenship of applicants before issuance of benefits. My office is currently reviewing their response.

Requesting Any Training Material for Educators the Michigan Department of Education Has Developed on “Gender Identity”

In addition to our work on elections and government spending, I have now asked the Michigan Department of Education to release all training materials provided to educators on the topic of “gender identity.”

Taxpayers deserve to know exactly what is being promoted in professional development sessions, curriculum guidance, and staff training events. Are teachers being pressured to adopt ideological frameworks instead of teaching the core skills they need to succeed when they graduate from college? These are legitimate questions — and we’re going to get answers.

If the Department of Education believes these materials are appropriate and defensible, they should release them publicly. If not, the people of Michigan deserve to know why they’re being kept in the dark. This isn’t about targeting teachers — it’s about ensuring accountability and protecting the rights of students, parents, and educators alike.

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Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. Please feel free to share this with anyone you’d like to help stay informed. If you have any questions, comments, or event/meeting requests please call me at 517-373-0839 and/or email me at JoshSchriver@House.MI.gov.

In God We Trust,

Representative Josh Schriver