Under a Michigan House bill introduced last week, Michigan's three largest research universities would have to report to the state on activities ranging from economic development to university spin-off companies in exchange for being funded separately from the state's other public universities. "We're essentially recognizing that these three research universities have a unique mission and task for the state of Michigan," said Greg Bird, director of communications for the state budget office. The bill, introduced by Rep. Pam Byrnes, a Chelsea Democrat, embodies Gov. Granholm's proposal to place funding for Wayne State, Michigan State and the University of Michigan in a separate appropriations bill from other universities. It is not clear how the bill, proposed for the 2008 fiscal year, would fare in the Republican-controlled Senate.