TIMELINE FOR CAMPAIGN STATEMENTS

House Bill 4291 (proposed substitute H-3)

Sponsor:  Rep. Julie Calley

1st Committee:  Elections and Ethics

2nd Committee:  Ways and Means

Complete to 1-15-20

SUMMARY:

House Bill 4291 would amend the Michigan Campaign Finance Act to revise the timing for the submission of campaign statements for committees (other than independent committees, independent expenditure committees, or political committees) and ballot question committees.

Currently, for those entities, the closing day for a preelection campaign statement is 16 days before an election, and the statement must be filed by 11 days before the election. A postelection campaign statement must be filed by the 30th day after the election.

The bill would retain this timeline for elections occurring in conjunction with a presidential primary election or for a special election held on a date other than a regular election date specified in section 641 of the Michigan Election Law. (Additionally, it would provide that, for a committee supporting a losing candidate in a special primary election, the committee would have to file according to this timeline, and if all liabilities were paid before the closing date and additional contributions not expected, the campaign statement could be filed by 25 days following the election.)

However, for all other elections, the bill would introduce a different timeline: the closing day for a preelection statement would be the 20th day of the month before an election, with the statement filed on the 25th day of the month before the election. A postelection statement would have to be filed by the 25th day of the month of the election.

[The H-2 substitute of the bill reported from the House Ways and Means committee accounts for changes to the act that were made by the recently signed 2019 PA 93,[1] which, among other things, removed February 15 from the list of dates by which a ballot question committee must file campaign statements, as Michigan no longer conducts February elections. The H-3 substitute moves the effective date from 2020 to 2021.]

The bill would take effect January 1, 2021.

MCL 169.233 and 169.234

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have no fiscal impact on the state or local units of government.

POSITIONS:

            The Secretary of State indicated a neutral position on the bill. (6-12-19)

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Jenny McInerney

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Michael Cnossen

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.

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