Republicans resumed control of the Michigan House Wednesday, returning Michigan to a period of divided government and breaking up the historic trifecta of control Democrats held through 2023 and 2024.

All 110 members — 58 Republicans and 52 Democrats — voted in favor of electing Matt Hall, the former House minority leader, to lead the chamber as speaker of the House, a departure from the prior session when eight Republicans voted against the election of Detroit Democrat Joe Tate as speaker.

In a brief speech after he was elected speaker in the 103rd Legislature, Hall thanked individuals in the crowd, including his wife and parents, several GOP former lawmakers and Republican former Gov. Rick Snyder, former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land and former Attorney General Bill Schuette.

“We’re going to rebuild this again and make you proud,” Hall said.

Hall also reflected on winning back the majority at a time when House Republicans had to rebrand themselves, largely without the help of a state party that was experiencing a major leadership crisis. He thanked those who helped return the Republican majority to Lansing.

“It was a pretty broken party when we started and not a lot of people thought we could win,” Hall said. “And so we had to go and work really hard to do it.”

State Rep. Nancy DeBoer, R-Holland, nominated Hall for the speakership, arguing his experiences in the House majority and minority were critical to lead the lower chamber in divided government.

“He has worked hard, faced overwhelming opposition, seemingly impossible odds, and has risen to this opportunity with heartfelt listening, incessant strategic thinking and the lion-hearted soul of bold leadership,” said DeBoer, a second-term lawmaker.

House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri, D-Canton Township, seconded the nomination, an action that is customary for the election of speaker.

“Rep. Hall will be presented with the opportunity to reach across the aisle to find common ground ensuring this chamber prioritizes pragmatic policy over petty politics,” Puri said.

Among the actions taken during the largely ceremonial first day of session was the adoption of House rules for the two-year session.

Those rules significantly expand the oversight powers of the Michigan House, granting full subpoena power to the House Oversight Committee and creating six subcommittees within the House Oversight panel that will target oft-criticized actions by the Democratic governor, attorney general and secretary of state.

Those subcommittees will be dedicated to investigating the child welfare system; the "weaponization of state government"; public health and food security; corporate subsidies and state investments; homeland security and foreign influence; and state and local public assistance programs.

The rules also require more transparency in the budget earmark process for lawmaker pet projects, will eliminate the ability of members to attend committees remotely and put House office employees under the direction of the House member they serve.

Hall’s new House rules also eliminate the ability of the governor’s staff or department staff to come on the House floor, arguing that it wasn’t unusual to see the governor’s staff pressuring lawmakers to support a given bill last session. The rule expand current policy that bars any lobbyists, with the exception of governor’s staff, from coming on to the House floor.

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