State Budget Negotiations Are Underway — Continue Speaking Up for Libraries!

After a busy month for Michigan’s legislature, momentum is building to finalize a budget for the state’s next fiscal year. With budget proposals now advanced by the House, Senate, and the Governor’s office, the next phase of negotiations is officially underway, and library advocates continue to play an important role in shaping the conversation around library funding.

On April 28, more than 130 library advocates came to Lansing for Michigan Library Advocacy Day to meet with legislators and discuss appropriation priorities for libraries in FY27. Across more than 100 meetings with elected leaders, advocates shared a clear message: Michigan libraries need increased investment to continue serving communities across the state. Advocates urged lawmakers to support a $500,000 increase in funding for State Aid to Libraries, and a $900,000 General Fund investment for the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).

The very next day, on April 29, the Senate passed Senate Bill 878, the omnibus appropriations bill for the FY27 state budget. The Senate proposal includes a one-time additional investment of $500,000 for State Aid to Libraries and $500,000 for the Michigan eLibrary (MeL). While this does not yet meet the full request, it represents meaningful progress and positions libraries well as negotiations continue between the House and Senate in the coming weeks. Earlier in April, the House passed its version of the FY27 budget (House Bill 5619), which includes flat funding for State Aid to Libraries and no additional support for MeL. Governor Whitmer’s executive budget proposal, released in February, also recommended flat funding for both.

Now, the focus turns to negotiations between the chambers. The Governor, alongside House and Senate leadership, will work to reconcile these proposals into a final budget agreement before the new fiscal year begins on October 1. MLA will continue working with partners and lawmakers throughout this process to advocate for the needs of libraries and the communities they serve. This is an important moment for continued advocacy.

If you attended Michigan Library Advocacy Day, now is also the perfect time to follow up with legislators and staff you met in Lansing. A simple thank-you message helps strengthen the relationships you began building and keeps libraries top of mind during budget negotiations.

Consider thanking Senators for their support of additional library funding in the Senate budget proposal and encouraging House members to work with the Senate to strengthen support for libraries in the final budget agreement. You can also invite legislators to visit your library, attend a program, or continue the conversation in your community.

Personal stories continue to make the greatest impact. Share how your library supports students, families, job seekers, entrepreneurs, and lifelong learners in your community — and how State Aid and MeL funding directly support those services.

We’re grateful for the role Michigan’s library advocates have played in getting us to this point. The inclusion of additional funding for State Aid to Libraries and MeL in the Senate budget reflects the strength of your advocacy and the relationships you’ve built with elected leaders.

Thank you for continuing to speak up for Michigan libraries as the budget process moves forward.

Take Action Today

Michigan lawmakers are currently negotiating the final FY27 state budget, and decisions made in the coming weeks will directly impact library funding and services across the state. Now is the time for library supporters to contact legislators and advocate for strong, stable funding for Michigan libraries.

• Find your legislators: Look up your State Senator and Representative using the Michigan Legislature websites.
• Reach out: Send a brief email or call their office today.
• Share your story: Explain who you are, your connection to your library, and how library services impact your community. Keep your message clear and personal—real examples of how libraries support education, job seekers, families, and communities are powerful!
• Include our key requests:
• Increase State Aid to Libraries by $500,000 for FY27 to support local libraries and cooperatives.
• Sustain funding for the Michigan eLibrary (MeL) and MeLCat, by including the $900,000 General Fund investment in the FY27 budget.
• Oppose any diversion of penal fine revenue without a stable replacement for libraries.

Questions? Click the links above to review detailed fact sheets about our top legislative priorities or visit milibraries.org/advocacy-day-resources.

Save the Date for Michigan Library Advocacy Day 2027

View the 2026 Michigan Library Advocacy Day event photo album on Facebook and mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 4, 2027, for Michigan Library Advocacy Day 2027!