Public utilities: other; certain money spent by electric or natural gas utilities; require to be reported to the public service commission. Amends 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.1 - 460.11) by adding sec. 6bb.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ruth Johnson and 2 co-sponsors

The bill requires electric and natural gas utilities to annually report detailed political spending to the PSC, which will publicly post the reports online.

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

#occupations:lobbyists #publicutilities:electricutilities #publicutilities:naturalgasutilities #publicutilities:other #publicutilities:publicservicecommission

Summary of SB 1078 (2025-2026, Michigan)

Purpose and scope

SB 1078 proposes amendments to 1939 Public Act 3 (MCL 460.1–460.11) to add a new section, 6bb.

The core aim is to increase transparency around political spending and related activities by electric and natural gas utilities.

The bill requires annual reporting to the Michigan Public Service Commission (PSC) and makes the PSC publish the reports online.

Key provisions

Annual reporting requirement (new Sec. 6bb)

Electric utilities and natural gas utilities must file an annual report with the PSC covering the reporting period.
The report must include:
- (a) A list of contributions to a separate segregated fund established by the utility.
- (b) An itemized list of contributions and expenditures by that separate segregated fund to or on behalf of:
- (i) Candidate committees
- (ii) Ballot question committees
- (iii) Political party committees
- (iv) Political committees
- (v) Independent expenditure committees
- (vi) Independent committees
- (vii) Other separate segregated funds
- (c) Any money given to organizations formed under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(4), including amounts and organization names.
- (d) Any money given to organizations formed under 26 U.S.C. § 527, including amounts and organization names.
- (e) Any expenditures made on lobbying.
- (f) A list of any contributions or expenditures described in (a)–(e) made by the utility’s parent company or an affiliate.
Subsection (2) requires the PSC to post the received report on its website.

Definitions for clarity (subsection 3)

The bill defines terms used in the reporting obligation, aligning them with Michigan’s Campaign Finance Act:
- Ballot question committee, candidate committee, contribution, independent committee, independent expenditure committee, lobbying, political committee, political party committee.
These definitions ensure consistent interpretation of what counts as a “contribution” or “expenditure” and categorize the types of committees involved.

Who is affected

Electric utilities and natural gas utilities operating in Michigan.

The utilities’ parent companies and affiliates are also implicated insofar as they engage in covered contributions or expenditures.

The Public Service Commission (as the repository and public-facing distributor of the information).

Procedural and timeline aspects

Effective date: Not specified in the text provided; the bill introduces the reporting requirement and PSC posting process, which would be implemented after any required enactment and effective dates.

Reporting cadence: Annual reports to the PSC; PSC must post these reports on its website.

Legislative status: Introduced June 25, 2026; referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

Potential impact and considerations

Enhances transparency around political spending by utilities, potentially informing ratepayers and policymakers about how utilities fund political activities or engage in lobbying.

May affect public perception and governance around utility-funded political activity and influence.

Administrative impact on utilities: annual compilation and submission of detailed disclosures, plus monitoring by the PSC and public posting.

Enshrines alignment with existing Michigan campaign finance definitions to ensure consistency with state law.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current reporting requirements or summarize potential fiscal or regulatory implications in more depth.