Bill > SB0458

This bill amends the Michigan Campaign Finance Act to create new restrictions on campaign contributions to judges and Supreme Court justices. The legislation prohibits individuals or entities from making campaign contributions to a judge's or justice's committee if they are currently involved in a legal matter before that judge. Specifically, the bill bars contributions from parties to ongoing legal cases, as well as from independent or political committees that are primarily funded by members of a limited liability company (LLC) involved in a pending legal matter. The bill requires such committees to provide a written statement disclosing who controls or directs them and whether they are primarily funded by an LLC. Violations of these provisions can result in misdemeanor charges, with potential penalties including up to one year in prison, fines of up to three times the amount of the prohibited contribution, or both. The law applies to both the contributors and the judicial committees, and gives committees seven days to return any prohibited contributions. The goal of the bill appears to be preventing potential conflicts of interest and maintaining the integrity of the judicial system by limiting campaign contributions from parties with active legal cases.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-SB-0458