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HB 5151

Legislature: other; penalties for certain acts related to an article V convention for proposing amendment; provide for. Creates new act.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Matt Bierlein and 9 co-sponsors

Michigan bill creates state criminal penalties for specified actions related to organizing Article V constitutional amendment conventions.

bill electronically reproduced 10/28/2025
#crimes:penalties #legislature:other
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Bill Summary · HB 5151

Legislative bill overview

HB 5151 creates criminal penalties for certain actions related to organizing or participating in an Article V convention for proposing constitutional amendments. The bill establishes new legal consequences for what it designates as improper conduct in the process of convening such a convention, which would allow states to bypass Congress and propose amendments directly.

Why is this important

Article V conventions are a rarely-used but constitutionally-protected mechanism for amending the U.S. Constitution. This bill signals Michigan's intention to establish legal guardrails—or barriers—around participation in such conventions, which could influence whether the state cooperates with multi-state amendment initiatives and how participants are protected or restricted under state law.

Potential points of contention

  • Vagueness of "certain acts": The bill title doesn't specify which actions trigger penalties, raising concerns about what conduct is actually prohibited and whether the law could chill legitimate political participation
  • Constitutional federalism questions: Critics may argue the state cannot penalize citizens' exercise of rights under Article V, which is a federal constitutional provision that supersedes state law
  • Political motivation: The bill may reflect partisan concerns about which amendment proposals might succeed (such as term limits or campaign finance amendments), leading to accusations that one side seeks to block conventions they oppose

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

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