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Podcast 83 Legislative Update January 14, 2026
Host: Stephan Currie
Guests: Deena Bosworth, Jimmy Johnson and Samantha Gibson of MAC
Topics: As the Legislature prepares its 2026 work schedule, MAC’s Podcast 83 team reviewed several continuing issues from 2025 in its latest episode.
In the wake of a Court of Claims ruling on a mental health revamp planned by the state, eyes now have turned to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the lead agency on the project, said MAC’s Jimmy Johnson.
“So … what happens next? Jan. 29 is the deadline that MDHHS has to appeal this,” Johnson explained, so we're going to be watching that very closely. We could see some timelines change. … There are some rules that are impermissible with Michigan law, so now MDHHS is going to have to come up with those fixes, bring it to the judge and the judge is going to have to concur.”
“There's a lot of moving parts on that, and timeframe issues, especially when you start looking at, again, an election year and an administration change coming at the end of this year,” replied host Steve Currie. “You know, this Oct. 1 deadline that was originally put out there or the changeover … if you start putting out a new RFP, we're already halfway through January, so that extends things out. It'll be interesting to see what the department does at this point, with regards to this change.”
Governmental Affairs Director Deena Bosworth reviewed how an Attorney General’s opinion has reversed a major change in state spending sought by House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Kalamazoo): “The Attorney General's opinion came out and said, no, (the House action) is unconstitutional; there is a separation of powers issue that once an appropriations bill passes through the House and the Senate and gets signed by the governor, then it's up to the administration to administer this. It's now a law.
“Now, all of a sudden, we've got an issue where the speaker is, going to appeal that decision … and we think there's going to be a hearing yet at the end of this week,” she added.
MAC’s Samantha Gibson gave a summary of key legislative dates in coming weeks as work will begin on the state’s fiscal year 2027 budget.
“The first (key date) is this Friday. The Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, also known as CREC, will be Jan. 16,” Gibson reported. “Following that is the governor's budget presentation, which maybe will be Feb. 12, so we'll have more insight as to what the governor's priorities are. …
“And beyond that, we have State of the State coming up on Feb. 25, so even more insight into the governor's priorities going into 2026,” she added.
See video versions of all Podcast 83 episodes on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@michiganassociationofcount2606
Visit the Podcast 83 page at www.micounties.org
View all episodes
By DerekHost: Stephan Currie
Guests: Deena Bosworth, Jimmy Johnson and Samantha Gibson of MAC
Topics: As the Legislature prepares its 2026 work schedule, MAC’s Podcast 83 team reviewed several continuing issues from 2025 in its latest episode.
In the wake of a Court of Claims ruling on a mental health revamp planned by the state, eyes now have turned to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the lead agency on the project, said MAC’s Jimmy Johnson.
“So … what happens next? Jan. 29 is the deadline that MDHHS has to appeal this,” Johnson explained, so we're going to be watching that very closely. We could see some timelines change. … There are some rules that are impermissible with Michigan law, so now MDHHS is going to have to come up with those fixes, bring it to the judge and the judge is going to have to concur.”
“There's a lot of moving parts on that, and timeframe issues, especially when you start looking at, again, an election year and an administration change coming at the end of this year,” replied host Steve Currie. “You know, this Oct. 1 deadline that was originally put out there or the changeover … if you start putting out a new RFP, we're already halfway through January, so that extends things out. It'll be interesting to see what the department does at this point, with regards to this change.”
Governmental Affairs Director Deena Bosworth reviewed how an Attorney General’s opinion has reversed a major change in state spending sought by House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Kalamazoo): “The Attorney General's opinion came out and said, no, (the House action) is unconstitutional; there is a separation of powers issue that once an appropriations bill passes through the House and the Senate and gets signed by the governor, then it's up to the administration to administer this. It's now a law.
“Now, all of a sudden, we've got an issue where the speaker is, going to appeal that decision … and we think there's going to be a hearing yet at the end of this week,” she added.
MAC’s Samantha Gibson gave a summary of key legislative dates in coming weeks as work will begin on the state’s fiscal year 2027 budget.
“The first (key date) is this Friday. The Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, also known as CREC, will be Jan. 16,” Gibson reported. “Following that is the governor's budget presentation, which maybe will be Feb. 12, so we'll have more insight as to what the governor's priorities are. …
“And beyond that, we have State of the State coming up on Feb. 25, so even more insight into the governor's priorities going into 2026,” she added.
See video versions of all Podcast 83 episodes on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@michiganassociationofcount2606
Visit the Podcast 83 page at www.micounties.org