Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed eight bipartisan bills authorizing $1.3 billion in capital outlay projects across Michigan's higher education institutions. The bills, which include an exception to state borrowing limits, will fund modernization of classrooms, laboratories, and campus facilities at 27 universities and community colleges.
Senate Bill 729 allows the State Building Authority to exceed its limit on outstanding obligations to enable additional capital investments in university and community college upgrades. House Bill 5482 aligns state appropriations for State Building Authority rental payments with the completion of new capital outlay projects and long-term financing.
The projects included in the fiscal year 2027 budget carry a total authorization of $1.3 billion, with a state cost of $524.4 million. Planning authorizations include new buildings at Central Michigan University, Ferris State University, Lake Superior State University, Michigan Technological University, University of Michigan–Dearborn, and Western Michigan University, as well as at several community colleges. Construction authorizations span facilities at Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, Northern Michigan University, Oakland University, University of Michigan–Flint, Wayne State University, and Bay de Noc, Kalamazoo Valley, Macomb, Monroe County, and Wayne County community colleges.
The package also included additional bills to close out the Community District Education Trust supporting Detroit's operating debt repayment, to increase funding to the Christopher R. Slezak First Responder Presumed Coverage Fund, to expand resources for federally recognized tribal governments, and to reallocate court resources and transportation administration funds to balance the state's budget.