Campaign finance: committees; independent committees by certain candidates considered 1 committee for certain purposes; provide for. Amends 1976 PA 388 (MCL 169.201 - 169.282) by adding sec. 27.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Noah Arbit and 20 co-sponsors

HB 4271 treats all independent committees tied to a candidate as one for campaign-limit purposes, closing gaps from multiple committees.

bill electronically reproduced 03/19/2025

#campaignfinance:committees #campaignfinance:other

Main purpose

HB 4271 adds a new section (sec. 27) to the Michigan Campaign Finance Act to treat multiple independent committees tied to the same individual candidate or legislator as a single independent committee for purposes of campaign-finance limitations (those in section 52). The intent is to prevent a candidate or sitting legislator from using multiple independent committees to evade statutory limits.

Key provisions

Adds a new Sec. 27 to 1976 PA 388 (MCL 169.201–169.282).

States that, except as provided in the section, all independent committees that are "established, financed, maintained, or controlled" by an individual who is a candidate for—or a member of—the Michigan House or Senate are to be treated as one independent committee for the purpose of the limitations under section 52.

Clarifies that merely making a contribution to a committee does not by itself mean an individual "established, financed, maintained, or controlled" the committee.

Exempts house political party caucus committees and senate political party caucus committees from this rule.

Creates a criminal penalty for knowing violation:

Individuals: felony punishable by up to 3 years imprisonment, a fine up to $5,000, or both.
Non-individuals (entities): fine up to $10,000.

Who/what would be affected

Candidates for, and current members of, the Michigan House and Senate who establish, support, or control independent committees.

Independent committees (including those set up to make independent expenditures) that are connected to such candidates or legislators.

Consultants, vendors, and organizations that assist candidates to set up or operate multiple independent committees.

Political party caucus committees are explicitly excluded.

Procedural/timeline aspects

Introduced March 19, 2025 (Rep. Betsy Coffia et al.); referred to the Committee on Government Operations (bill electronically reproduced 03/19/2025).

Committee hearings and consideration occurred April–May 2025 (multiple committee actions, hearings listed).

Record shows committee substitute activity and that the bill was reported and later passed actions in May 2025 (see legislative history for exact calendar entries).

Potential impact and considerations

Limits a common strategy of establishing multiple independent committees to sidestep contribution/expenditure limits and reporting structures; increases consolidation for limit enforcement.

May increase compliance and reporting scrutiny for committees with ties to candidates.

The "knowingly" standard for criminal liability focuses enforcement on intentional circumvention but could raise litigation or compliance questions about what constitutes "control" versus ordinary support.

Enforcement will require investigators to determine operational and financial control across multiple entities; practical effect will depend on implementation and interpretation of "establish, finance, maintain, or control."

For full text and the cited statutory reference, see the HB 4271 bill language and MCL section 52 (campaign finance limitations).

Bill