The Legislature passed many bills related to education in 2023 and the first half of 2024. We have compiled the following list of new laws that will take effect for the 2024-2025 school year that may affect your district. This list is as of August 7. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. 

New Hire Retirement System Default  House Bill 5021, Public Act 250 of 2023  
HB 5021 changes the Public School Employees Retirement Act to set the default retirement plan to tier 1. A new hire to a school district must choose a retirement plan within 75 days of their hire date. Previously, if the teacher had not selected a plan within that window, they defaulted to a 401k, or the Tier 2 elective, instead of the Tier 1. MASB supported this bill which went into effect on June 30, 2024. 

Sexual Assault Information Bill  Senate Bill 66, Public Act 57 of 2023 
This bill requires materials related to sexual assault and harassment to be provided to students in grades 6 through 12 beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. The Michigan Department of Education will develop the materials for schools to distribute. Districts are also encouraged to provide all school personnel with training on how to respond to students who have experienced sexual assault or harassment. Personnel training will take place at a minimum of every 5 years. MASB supported the bill.   

Filter First House Bill 4341, Public Act 154 of 2023 
This bill is part of a package to require schools and daycare centers to create a drinking water management plan, which includes testing all potable sites for lead and other contaminants by January 2025.  It also requires all drinking fountains or outlets providing water for consumption to be replaced by the end of the 2025-2026 school year with either a filtered bottle filling station or filtered faucet. 

Teacher and Administrator Evaluation Changes Senate Bill 395, Public Act 224 of 2023 
SB 395 makes multiple changes to the teacher and administrator evaluation law, including changing the rating categories and the frequency of evaluations for effective employees and superintendents and creating a process for reviewing an individual’s evaluation. This law went into effect on July 1, 2024. More detailed information is available in our November 1, 2023 edition of DashBoard. 

Dental Assessments for School Enrollment Senate Bill 280, Public Act 316 of 2023 
Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, a parent or guardian must have their child receive a dental oral assessment within six months before the child enrolls in school for the first time. A district can’t hold a child out if they have not complied, but the parent must be informed of the requirement and allow the Department of Health and Human Services to select an entity or person to conduct the exam. Previously a dental exam was encouraged before enrollment. 

School Cardiac Emergency Response Plan  House Bills 5527-5528, Public Acts 36-37 of 2024 
These bills modify and expand the cardiac emergency response plans for public and private schools. The cardiac emergency plan and response team would act in the case of a cardiac emergency during the school day or at school-sponsored athletic events. The cardiac emergency response plan would establish steps and practices to reduce the chances of serious harm or death. The new requirements go into effect at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year. 

Special Education Alternative Certification Extension   Senate Bill 518, Public Act 49 of 2024  
SB 518 extends to 2027 the sunset on the provision to allow special education teachers to receive interim certificates. This bill offers an alternative path for schools to employ special education teachers. MASB supports this bill as a way to address the shortage and support the teacher recruitment challenges rural districts are facing. . The bill was effective June 6, 2024. 

Design-Build Firms for School Building Construction House Bill 4603, Public Act 67 of 2024  
Allows districts who are executing new construction and remodels of buildings to use a design build contractor if they choose. Past law did not give districts this option. The bill will go into effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns for the year (Sine Die).