Bill
HB 4943
Prohibits state/local funds from being spent on legal actions that violate Michigan Constitution Article I, Sec. 12; assigns enforcement duties to government officers and bodies.
HB 4943 (Michigan) — Summary
Overview
- Title: State management: funds; expenditure of public funds for certain unconstitutional purposes; prohibit. Creates new act.
- Purpose (as stated in the bill): Prohibit the expenditure of state or local funds for the purpose of certain legal proceedings that would violate a specified provision of the Michigan Constitution, and establish the powers and duties of state and local government officers and entities to enforce this prohibition.
- Status: Introduced and electronically reproduced on September 11, 2025; referred to the Committee on Government Operations. The bill has a companion in the Senate (SB 2489).
Key Provisions
- Primary prohibition (Sec. 1): “This state or a local unit of government of this state shall not appropriate, disburse, or otherwise expend state or local funds for a purpose that violates section 12 of article I of the state constitution of 1963.”
- Scope: Applies to all state and local government bodies and their officers/entities responsible for appropriating, disbursing, or expending funds.
- Administrative framework: The bill would provide for the powers and duties of relevant state and local governmental officers and entities to implement and enforce the prohibition. The specific duties, procedures, and enforcement mechanisms are not detailed in the provided text but would be developed in the bill’s full language.
- Relationship to constitutional limits: Centerpiece is ensuring that public funds are not used for purposes that contravene Article I, Section 12, of the Michigan Constitution. The exact constitutional provision referenced is not restated in the excerpt beyond noting its applicability.
Who would be affected
- State agencies and departments that administer funds.
- Local units of government (cities, townships, counties, villages, and potentially school districts) and their officers (treasurers, clerks, budget officers, and elected/appointed officials).
- Public authorities, boards, and commissions with fiscal responsibilities.
- Individuals or entities engaging in or funding legal proceedings using public funds.
- Recipients of public funds and grant programs could be indirectly affected if funds are used in ways that would violate the cited constitutional provision.
Procedural and Timeline Aspects
- Introduced: March 13, 2025.
- First reading: April 3, 2025; referred to State Affairs (initial committee assignment in original chronology, though later action shows Government Operations as the current referral).
- September 11–16, 2025: Read a first time, introduced/reproduced electronically; referred to Committee on Government Operations.
- Legislative path indicates ongoing committee consideration; no enacted date or effective date provided in the excerpt.
Related Legislation
- Companion bill: SB 2489 (Senate). Tracking the companion can provide parallel progress and potential alignment on the same provisions.
Notes for readers
- The excerpt provides the core prohibition but does not include detailed definitions, exceptions, penalties, or remedies. The full bill would clarify scope (e.g., what constitutes “certain legal proceedings”), enforcement mechanisms, audit rights, and transition provisions if any.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
