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House Budget Proposes Dangerous Cuts to Healthcare, Food, Youth Justice
Last week, Matt Hall, the Speaker of Michigan House of Representatives, introduced the House Republicans 800-page budget proposal, gave lawmakers 1 hour to review it, and then passed it out of the House.
The budget calls for major across the board cuts. As our fiscal sponsor, the Michigan League for Public Policy notes, it calls for $5 billion in cuts to health care, human services, food safety programs, environmental health and more. Incarcerated people are especially targeted for these cuts to health care, food services, and essential programs. Other cuts threaten constitutionally-mandated public defense, programs to support kids in the juvenile justice system, and the courts.
Here’s a summary of some of the key proposals in the House budget:
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Media Release: Justice Advocates Speak Out Against Proposed Public Safety Cuts
House budget hits most vulnerable families, those seeking to change their lives
Contact: Chuck Warpehoski chuckw@mi-cemi.org
MICHIGAN – Public safety advocates are speaking out against a budget passed by Republican members of the Michigan State House of Representatives that cuts funds to programs that promote public safety by preventing crime, promoting rehabilitation, and supporting successful reentry after prison. Taken in total, the House budget would decrease public safety, devastate low income families and have a special impact on those incarcerated and formerly incarcerated.
“The Republican budget proposal guts the very programs that keep our communities safe and help people return home with stability and dignity,” said Ken Nixon, Director of Outreach and Community Partnerships at Safe & Just Michigan. “Cutting reentry services, prison healthcare, education, and alternatives to incarceration doesn’t make Michigan safer—it sets us back. Real public safety comes from investing in people, reducing barriers to success, and ensuring basic human needs are met. Both parties still have work to do to fully live up to that vision, but this plan takes us in the exact opposite direction.”
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How Restorative Justice Can Transform the Criminal Justice System
(more…)Restorative practices not only can help transform all aspects of the criminal legal system, they already are.
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Join Us for the First Quarterly Reentry Table – October 14
We’re excited to launch the Quarterly Reentry Table, a new space for connection, collaboration, and action among people and organizations working to support successful reentry in Michigan.
Kickoff Session Details:
- Date: Tuesday, October 14, 2025
- Time: 12:00 – 1:30 PM ET
- Location: Virtual on Zoom (link will be emailed upon RSVP)
- Audience: Reentry service providers, formerly incarcerated individuals, and advocates
This kickoff session will bring together service providers, directly impacted people, and advocates to:
- Build connections across the reentry field
- Share insights on reentry successes and challenges
- Explore how this quarterly gathering can best serve participants moving forward
Your perspective is essential in shaping this new collaborative space.
RSVP below to join the conversation:
We look forward to connecting with you on October 14.
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Next Up: Prison Programming Providers Table | August 5 at 12PM
At MI-CEMI, we know that robust peer-led and volunteer programming inside Michigan prisons is essential for meaningful rehabilitation and successful community reentry. To continue strengthening and expanding these critical programs, we’re bringing together providers, advocates, and individuals with direct programming experience for our quarterly Prison Programming Providers Table.
Join us virtually on Tuesday, August 5th, from 12:00–1:30 PM ET on Zoom for an interactive discussion about the current landscape of programming inside Michigan’s correctional facilities.
In this session, we’ll introduce our newly developed statewide map of existing programs, highlighting where programming thrives and where gaps remain. Following this overview, participants will break into role-specific small groups—Providers, Advocates, and Program-Experienced individuals—to collectively examine assets, barriers, and opportunities for growth.
As always, we’ll create space to report back as a full group and identify actionable next steps for expanding high-quality programming statewide.
Your insights are essential to this conversation.
Register now
