Progress Michigan is seeking to amend the state constitution to

• • Ban lobbyists and their clients from giving gifts, including meals, drinks, and trips, to public officials
  • Require lobbyists and public officials to make a public record of their phone calls, meetings, and other communications with each other
  • Require a two-year cooling off period before public officials could become lobbyists
  • Ban contingency pay for lobbyists

Progress Michigan is part of the Coalition to Close Lansing Loopholes, which filed proposed language with the state for the November 2020 ballot.

A constitutional amendment requires the group to collect signatures of registered voters equal to at least 10% of the number of votes cast for all candidates in the last gubernatorial election, or at least 425,055 valid signatures by July 6.

The group is seeking a constitutional amendment, rather than a legislative initiative, which requires fewer signatures, to prevent the Legislature from amending the proposal.

The Bureau of Elections posted the Lobby Registration Act 2020 Reporting Thresholds.

Thresholds change every year in January to reflect the change in the consumer price index for Detroit.

The registration threshold for a lobbyist agent or a lobbyist’s expenditure on one public official during a 12-month period has increased from $625 to $650.

The threshold for a lobbyist compensating a lobbyist agent or other employee increased from $2,500 to $2,525 for any 12-month period.

The financial transaction threshold between a registered lobbyist or lobbyist agent and a public official increased from $1,250 to $1,275.

Food and beverage expenditures for a public official increased from $62 in any month and $375 in any year to $63 and $400 respectively.

The general gift threshold also increased from $62 to $63.

Travel and lodging reimbursements, employee reimbursements, exempt expenditures, late filing fees remain the same as last year.

Democrat Cynthia Neeley and Republican Adam Ford won the House District 34 special primaries held on January 7.

Less than 7% of Flint’s 62,242 registered voters participated in the special election.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called the election after Cynthia Neeley’s husband, Sheldon was elected Flint’s mayor.

A general election is set for March 10.

The candidate chosen March 10 will finish the remainder of Sheldon Neeley’s term, set to expire on December 31, 2020.

The 100th Legislature adjourned sine die at noon on December 19 after more than 100 legislative days in session.

During the session, lawmakers voted to pass a bill to revise the rules on the governor transferring funds appropriated by the legislature to a different purpose than the one originally specified.

The legislature also voted to pass a bill to exempt equipment owned by a data center business from local special assessment levies, and some school property tax levies.

Per the state constitution, any business, bill, or joint resolution pending at the final adjournment of a regular session held in an odd-numbered year will carry over with the same status to the next regular session.

The 2020 session is scheduled to begin on January 8, 2020.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson created a new state Election Security Commission along with recommendations to improve the integrity of Michigan’s elections.

Included on the board of the Election Security Commission are the clerks of Kalamazoo, Wayne, and Ingham counties.

The commission will begin meeting next month.

The recommendations are expected to be released by the end of the year.

Gov. Rick Snyder announced special election dates for the vacant 68^th House District seat.

The primary election will be held on August 7 with the general election on November 6, lining up with the special election for U.S. Congress and the statewide elections.

The seat was vacated by Andy Schor, who resigned to become the mayor of Lansing.

Pictured: Outgoing Representative Andy Schor

Gov. Rick Snyder has called a special election to fill the vacancy for the 13^th District of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Rep. John Conyers resigned on December 6, 2017, amid sexual harassment allegations.

The special general election will be held on November 6, 2018.

The special primary election will be held on August 7, 2018.

Gov. Rick Snyder signed two campaign finance bills accounting for the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United into law on September 20, 2017.

Senate Bill 335 excludes an independent expenditure from the definition of a contribution and defines independent expenditure committees.

Senate Bill 336 incorporate violations established in Senate Bill 335 into the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The bills are effective immediately.

The Michigan Legislature passed two campaign finance bills accounting for the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United from 2010.

Senate Bill 355 excludes an independent expenditure from the definition of a contribution and defines independent expenditure committees.

Senate Bill 336 incorporates violations established in Senate Bill 335 into the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Opponents of the bills argue it would allow candidates to raise unlimited contributions for independent expenditure committees, often referred to as super PACs.

Gov. Rick Snyder has 14 days upon receipt of the enrolled bills to sign or veto them.

Flint voters approved updates to the city’s charter on August 8, 2017.

Updates include gift restrictions involving persons doing business or seeking to do business with the city, lobbyist registration and reporting requirements, and post-employment restrictions on public servants.

The charter becomes effective on January 1, 2018.

The completed draft of the charter has been posted by the Charter Review Commission.

In 2015, voters in Flint, Michigan selected nine members to serve on the Flint Charter Review Commission.

Commissioners spent the last two years drafting the charter to be approved in a citywide referendum election on August 8, 2017. The proposed charter includes lobbyist registration provisions and a one-year revolving door provision for public servants.

The proposed revisions may be put up to a vote up to three times. In the event voters reject the proposed charter after three referenda, the commission is dissolved.

On May 9, 2017, Michigan Rep. John Kivela took his own life. Gov. Rick Snyder has called a special election to fill the vacancy for the 109^th District.

The special primary election will be held on August 8, 2017, with the special general election being held on November 7, 2017.

The winner of the of the special election will serve the remainder of Kivela’s two-year term.

Several ethics bills have been introduced in Michigan Legislature.

House Bill 4489 prohibits immediate family members of a public officer or employee from accepting gifts tending to influence the manner in which the public officer or employee or another public officer or employee performs official duties.

House Bill 4526 prohibits, for three years after leaving office, a former member of the Michigan Senate or House of Representatives who was, at any time, the chair of a standing committee, from making expenditures for or receiving compensation or reimbursement for actual expenses for lobbying equal to or exceeding the limit established to require registration as a lobbyist agent.

Similarly, House Bill 4527 prohibits any former member of the Michigan Senate or House of Representatives from being a lobbyist agent for two years after leaving office.

If passed, the bills will become effective 90 days after the end of the legislative session.

State Rep. Brian Banks resigned as part of a plea deal related to charges involving fraudulent pay stubs.

To fill the vacancy, Gov. Rick Snyder announced a special election to fill the First House District seat.

The special primary will be held on August 8, 2017, and the special general election will be held on November 7, 2017.

The special election coincides with the regular election to save taxpayers money.