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HB 5796

Counties: employees and officers; county-elected officials disclosing felony convictions; require. Amends 1846 RS 14 (MCL 45.318 - 45.324) by adding sec. 118a. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5795'26

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Reggie Miller and 1 co-sponsor

Requires county-elected officials who are convicted of a felony to update their official affidavit within 3 business days to reflect the conviction.

bill electronically reproduced 04/15/2026
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Bill Summary · HB 5796

Summary of HB 5796 (2025-2026) — Michigan

Purpose and Intent

HB 5796 amends the 1846 Revised Statutes (MCL 45.318–45.324) to require county-elected officials to disclose felony convictions. Specifically, it adds a new Section 118a that mandates timely updating of an official affidavit to reflect a felony conviction. The bill is tied to HB 5795, meaning it will take effect only if HB 5795 is enacted into law.

Key Provisions

  • Duty to Update After Felony Conviction
    • An elected county officer who is convicted of a felony must, within 3 business days of the conviction, update the affidavit filed with the county clerk under section 558a of the Michigan Election Law (MCL 168.558a) to indicate the felony conviction.
  • Definition of “Convicted of a Felony”
    • The term means a court has entered a judgment of conviction for a felony offense, regardless of sentencing status or whether an appeal is pending.
  • Enacting Provision
    • The new requirement is in an enacting section tied to HB 5795; the bill’s effective date is contingent on HB 5795 becoming law.

Who Is Affected

  • Primary Stakeholders
    • County officers who hold elected positions in Michigan counties.
  • Administrative/Procedural Actors
    • County clerks who maintain and receive affidavits under the Michigan Election Law (section 558a).

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • Reporting Timeline
    • The required update must occur no later than 3 business days after the felony conviction date.
  • Effective Date Contingency
    • The bill’s operative effect is contingent upon the passage of HB 5795; without that bill’s enactment, HB 5796 does not take effect.

Potential Impacts

  • Transparency and Public Accountability
    • Enhances public visibility of felony convictions among county-elected officials by ensuring convictions are disclosed in official affidavits.
  • Administrative Burden
    • Adds a specific, near-immediate reporting duty on convicted officials and requires timely administrative action by county clerks to update records.
  • Scope and Limitations
    • Applies specifically to elected county officers; does not address non-elected county employees or officials.

Notes

  • HB 5796 is currently in the legislative process (House Committee on Election Integrity). It has co-sponsors Rep. Reggie Miller and Rep. Veronica Paiz.
  • The bill is a tie-bar with HB 5795, so its effectiveness depends on the enactment of HB 5795 (request no. H05454’25) in the current session.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison with current Michigan election affidavit requirements or provide a plain-language briefing for non-legal audiences.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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