Questions Arise on the Legality of New Department

Sep 1, 2023

by Liz Gullett

As MLC’s Communications and Social Media Manager, Liz Gullett keeps clients informed and up-to-date on the goings on in Lansing and the Capitol.

Is the new Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential legal under the state constitution? Following the governor’s creation of the department, the State Board of Education passed a motion directing State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice to request an Attorney General Opinion over that question and A.G. Dana Nessel has responded.

Key Points:

    • The office was created in July 2023 through an executive order.
    • The purpose is to create and implement a vision for life-long education.
    • The Board contends that under the Michigan Constitution, they have authority over all public education.

Attorney General Nessel’s response:

    • The order isn’t yet effective and hasn’t been implemented.
    • Due to that, overlap hasn’t occurred yet, there is only potential for overlap.
    • The executive order states its purpose is to complement the Board and work in cooperation with it.

In her letter, A.G. Nessel stated “this letter should not be construed as any type of opinion, as I believe that, on its face, the EO presents no constitutional concern warranting the issuance of an opinion, but I also wanted to personally respond to you and the Board with my reasons for that belief.”

Michigan Legislative Consultants is a bipartisan lobbying firm based in Lansing, Michigan. Our team of lobbyists and procurement specialists provide a wide range of services for some of the most respected companies in America. For more on MLC, visit www.mlcmi.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Recent Posts

Last Week on the MLC Blog

Last Week on the MLC Blog

Over the past week, we covered these topics on the MLC Blog… Politics isn’t just parties—it’s people. MLC’s Karli Hensler shared what she learned working in the House: relationships, work ethic & kindness often matter more than party lines. Despite negotiations...

Budget Deadline Passes

Budget Deadline Passes

Despite negotiations between the House, Senate, and the governor’s office, the legislature did not meet the statutory July 1 deadline to complete the state budget for the next fiscal year. The House and Senate both held session on Tuesday this week, intending to pass...

Economic Indicators Report Released

Economic Indicators Report Released

The nonpartisan Senate Fiscal Agency released the April 2025 Michigan Economic Indicators Report. The report provides economic highlights on both the national and state levels. United States: Consumer sentiment fell for the fourth consecutive month by 8.4% from the...

Looking for older articles?

We’ve recently made improvements to our blog to provide a better user experience. If you’re searching for older posts, click here to search our archive.

Michigan Legislative Consultants

Michigan Legislative Consultants
110 W. Michigan Avenue
Suite 500
Lansing, MI 48933
517.372.2560
517.372.0130 fax

1001 Woodward Avenue
Suite 500
Detroit, MI 48226

MLC is proud to be the Michigan member of NASL