2013 Senate Bill 661 / Public Act 252

Increase political contributions limits

Introduced in the Senate

Oct. 31, 2013

Introduced by Sen. Arlan Meekhof (R-30)

To increase the maximum campaign contributions allowed by state election law, index these to inflation, and require additional finance reports from candidates.

Referred to the Committee on Local Government and Elections

Nov. 14, 2013

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Substitute offered

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Sen. Gretchen Whitmer (D-23)

To cut the allowable campaign contribution limits in half instead of doubling them.

The amendment failed 10 to 28 (details)

Amendment offered by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D-18)

To repeal an exception for certain types of political campaign committees to contribution reporting deadlines.

The amendment failed 19 to 19 (details)

Amendment offered by Sen. Coleman Young (D-1)

To strip out the provision indexing campaign contribution caps to the rate of inflation.

The amendment failed 16 to 22 (details)

Amendment offered by Sen. Steve Bieda (D-9)

To revise the definition of a "candidate" in campaign finance law.

The amendment failed 19 to 19 (details)

Passed in the Senate 20 to 18 (details)

To increase the maximum campaign contributions allowed by state election law, index these to inflation, and require additional finance reports from candidates. The bill would also establish that third party "issue ads" that do not expressly advocate the election of a candidate or issue need not include a disclosure of who paid for the ad, and allow the Republican and Democratic caucuses in the legislature to raise and spend money promoting their preferred candidates in primary elections.

Received in the House

Nov. 14, 2013

Referred to the Committee on Elections and Ethics

Dec. 10, 2013

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the amendments be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Dec. 11, 2013

Amendment offered

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R-86)

To strip-out the provision in the Senate-passed version of the bill that would have repealed a ban on Republican and Democratic caucuses in the legislature raising and spending money promoting their preferred candidates in primary elections.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Theresa Abed (D-71)

To cut campaign contribution caps in half rather than doubling them.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Andy Schor (D-68)

To mandate that an individual or organization who buys a political “issue ad” that references a candidate or ballot question (but does not necessarily engage in campaign-related “express advocacy”) within 60 days of an election must file a report with the Secretary of State within seven days containing the full name and street address of each person who contributed for the ad. The Secretary of State would then have to post this information on the internet within 24 hours.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Andy Schor (D-68)

To not double campaign contribution caps, but instead leave them at current levels.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Substitute offered by Rep. Collene Lamonte (D-91)

To adopt a version of the bill that does not increase contribution amounts.

The substitute failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Martin Howrylak (R-41)

To cut in half the maximum amount that a "political action committee" (PAC) can contribute to candidates.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Anthony Forlini (R-24)

To require political "robocalls" that "expressly advocate" the election or defeat of a candidate or ballot question to disclose the name and address of the person paying for the calls.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 56 to 52 (details)

To double the maximum campaign contributions allowed by state election law, index these to inflation, and require additional finance reports from candidates. The bill would also establish that organizations that run third party "issue ads" which do not "expressly advocate" for or against a candidate or ballot issue need not disclose the names and addresses of who paid for the ad (but do have to disclose the sponsoring organization), and require political "robocalls" that do not engage in "express advocacy" to include who paid for the calls.

Received in the Senate

Dec. 12, 2013

Motion by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R-20)

To reject as out-of-order an amendment proposed by Sen. Bieda to make enactment of this bill conditional on passage of Senate Bill 168, which would mandate extensive candidate disclosures of their personal finances.

The motion passed 26 to 11 (details)

Passed in the Senate 23 to 14 (details)

To concur with the House-passed version of the bill.

Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder

Dec. 26, 2013