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SJR I

Elections: primary; nomination process for secretary of state and attorney general; modify, and provide for gubernatorial appointment of regents, trustees, or board of governors for universities. Amends sec. 21, art. V & sec. 5, art. VIII of the state constitution.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ed McBroom and 1 co-sponsor

Constitutional amendment would shift secretary of state and attorney general nominations to primaries and overhaul Michigan’s three public university boards to governor-appointed,

SENATE CO-SPONSOR(S) NAMED:
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Bill Summary · SJR I

Summary of Bill: Senate Joint Resolution I (SJR I) — Michigan, 2025-2026 Session

Purpose and intent

  • SJR I proposes a constitutional amendment to reform two areas: 1) The nominating process for the offices of secretary of state and attorney general. 2) The governance structure of the three public universities in Michigan (University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University) by establishing gubernatorial appointment with Senate advice and consent, term limits, bipartisan eligibility requirements, and specific nomination sources.
  • The measure would be placed on the ballot for a special election set for August 4, 2026.

Key provisions and changes

A. Nominating process for secretary of state and attorney general (Article V, Sec. 21)

  • Current practice (nominations by party conventions) would change for these two offices.
  • Beginning January 1, 2027, the secretary of state and the attorney general would be nominated by primary elections, rather than by party conventions, with the specifics to be set by law.
  • Vacancies in either office would continue to be filled by gubernatorial appointment.

B. University governance overhaul (Article VIII, Sec. 5)

  • Replacement of current boards (each university currently governed by an eight-member board) with new 9-member boards for:
    • University of Michigan: Regents
    • Michigan State University: Board of Trustees
    • Wayne State University: Board of Governors
  • Composition and appointment process (beginning December 31, 2026):
    • Each board would be appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate.
    • Each board member would serve an eight-year term.
    • No more than five members on any board may be from the same political party.
    • At least one member from each board must be nominated from a list provided by the institution’s alumni association.
    • At least one MSU board member must have practical farming expertise.
    • Board members must comply with state ethics laws.
  • Vacancy rules:
    • If a vacancy occurs, the governor appoints a replacement for the remainder of the term, with Senate advice and consent.
    • A vacancy serving less than four full years is eligible to be appointed to a full eight-year term.
  • Initial term structure for first appointees after December 30, 2026:
    • Four members’ terms end December 31, 2028 (two appointees on this schedule).
    • Two members’ terms end December 31, 2030.
    • Three members’ terms end December 31, 2032.
    • Two members’ terms end December 31, 2034.
    • The outgoing governor (term expiring January 1, 2027) would appoint one member to each of the four term schedules (a–d), and the incoming governor (term starting January 1, 2027) would appoint the remaining five members across those schedules.

Who would be affected

  • Secretaries of State and Attorney General:
    • After 2026, nominations would occur through primaries rather than party conventions, potentially affecting campaign dynamics, candidate selection, and party involvement in the nominating process.
    • Vacancies would still be filled by the governor.
  • Public universities (UM, MSU, Wayne State):
    • Governance would shift from current eight-member boards to a nine-member, governor-appointed configuration with Senate consent.
    • Board membership would be subject to bipartisanship requirements and ethics rules.
    • Alumnus associations would have a formal role (nomination of at least one member per board).
    • MSU would require at least one member with farming experience.
    • Term lengths would be standardized to eight years, with explicit staggered terms for the initial appointments.

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • Effective date for nominating process change: January 1, 2027 (for secretary of state and attorney general nominations via primary elections).
  • University board changes would commence on December 31, 2026, with the initial new nine-member boards formed and terms scheduled through 2028–2034, as described.
  • Special election to consider the constitutional amendment: August 4, 2026.
  • The ballot question would present a single proposal outlining:
    • The shift to primary nomination for secretary of state and attorney general.
    • Creation of new bipartisan, term-limited boards for U-M, MSU, and Wayne State.
    • Details on nomination sources (alumni association), party balance limits, farming expertise requirement for MSU, and appointment processes.

Notable elements to watch

  • The bipartisan requirement and primary nomination process could influence candidate pools and party dynamics for statewide offices and university governance.
  • The phased term and appointment schedule for university boards aims to transition to a new governance model with anticipated ethics and eligibility standards.
  • The amendment would bind future governors to appoint board members consistent with the new structure, subject to Senate consent.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with the current constitutional provisions and a plain-language FAQ for readers.

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

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