Bill > HB4642

This bill amends the Michigan Campaign Finance Act to clarify and expand the authority of the Secretary of State and the Attorney General in handling campaign finance violations. The bill modifies existing procedures for filing complaints, investigating potential violations, and resolving disputes. Specifically, it establishes a more detailed process for how complaints are filed, reviewed, and addressed, including new provisions for when a violation involves the Secretary of State. If a matter involves the Secretary of State, their immediate family, or a campaign they are connected to, the case must be referred to the Attorney General for investigation. The bill outlines specific timelines for responses, posting of documents, and potential resolutions, including informal methods like conferences or conciliation, and provides for civil fines up to triple the amount of an improper contribution plus up to $1,000 per violation. The bill also clarifies that criminal penalties can only be enforced by the Attorney General, typically after a referral from the Secretary of State, and reinforces that there is no private right of action under the campaign finance law. Additionally, the bill makes several technical language changes, such as replacing gendered pronouns with more neutral terminology and standardizing phrasing throughout the document.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-4642