Preamble The failure of the legislative process to bring introduced bills to a floor vote has diminished the voice of Michigan’s citizens and local entities, costing $200 million annually in delayed education and infrastructure funding (Legislative Service Bureau, 2024). This amendment establishes four independent triggers that compel timely floor votes without mandating passage, preserving legislative autonomy and ensuring fairness, transparency, and balance between rural and urban voices (8).
Independent triggers (any one route compels a vote):
§54. Discharge Petitions by Citizens Mechanism. A citizen-initiated discharge petition may be filed with the Secretary of State (SOS) requesting that a bill introduced under Article IV, §26 be brought to a recorded yea/nay roll-call vote in its chamber of origin, consistent with chamber rules as of January 1, 2025. Triggers operate within the legislature’s procedural framework, preserving chamber autonomy (1). Conditions. • Bill text must be publicly posted for at least 72 hours (no shell/placeholder bills) (3). • Debate and germane amendments may occur, but chamber rules may not extend the 30-session-day clock or block discharge (1). • Post-discharge, the bill must receive a recorded vote within the session, barring adjournment sine die. • Legislative discretion under Article IV, §16 is preserved (1).
Eligible Entities. All townships, cities, and villages recognized by the Michigan Municipal League as of January 1, 2025. Thresholds. • Statutory bills: resolutions from ≥ 1/3 of eligible entities. • Constitutional amendments: resolutions from ≥ 2/5 of eligible entities. • Filing window: 270 calendar days. Verification & Safeguards. • Verified by the Clerk within 30 session days, extendable by 5, with a public audit trail (2). The Clerk shall publish verification-capacity plans within 90 days. If capacity is exceeded, the Board of State Canvassers assumes primary responsibility within 10 session days. • If high volume risks delays, the Clerk may request emergency funding under MCL 168.476, audited publicly within 5 session days. • Fees cover costs, capped at reasonable administrative expenses (3). • Challenges capped at 1 per entity, 10 total per bill; frivolous claims dismissed within 5 session days (4). • Funding disclosure: All resolution funding (including in-kind and anonymous) disclosed within 72 hours per MCL 169.201; non-disclosure or false reports trigger automatic sanctions under MCL 600.2591, enforceable by the Clerk with expedited Court of Claims review. Follows-Intent Clause. Resolutions must align with the bill’s core subject, scope, or effect (title, summary, sponsor’s public record), verified by the Clerk (5). Substantive changes pause discharge until re-attested within 5 session days. Clerical changes do not break intent. A 5-day public comment period follows certification. Independence. Meeting this section’s thresholds independently compels discharge. Thresholds in other sections are not cumulative for this trigger. Bill Identity, Discharge Target, Chamber Sequencing, Calendaring. As in §54.
• Statutory bills: signatures ≥ 4% of votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election. • Constitutional amendments: signatures ≥ 8% of votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election. • Collection window: 270 calendar days. Verification & Safeguards. • Verified by SOS under MCL 168.476 within 30 session days, extendable by 5 for documented capacity constraints, with a public audit trail (2). The SOS shall publish verification-capacity plans within 90 days. If capacity is exceeded, the Board of State Canvassers assumes primary responsibility within 10 session days. • If high volume risks delays, SOS may request emergency funding under MCL 168.476, audited publicly within 5 session days. • Fees cover actual verification costs, capped at reasonable administrative expenses (3). • Challenges capped at 1 per party, 10 total per bill; frivolous claims dismissed within 5 session days (4). • Funding disclosure: All petition funding (including in-kind and anonymous) disclosed within 72 hours per MCL 169.201, in a public, searchable database; non-disclosure or false reports trigger automatic sanctions under MCL 600.2591, enforceable by SOS with expedited Court of Claims review. Follows-Intent Clause. Petitions must align with the bill’s core subject, scope, or effect (objectively evidenced by the bill’s title, summary, and sponsor’s public record, e.g., filings or public statements), verified by SOS with a public audit trail (5). Substantive changes (e.g., shifting from education to transportation funding) pause discharge until re-attested within 5 session days. Clerical changes do not break intent. A 5-day public comment period follows certification. Fallback Clause. Failure of citizen petitions does not affect triggers under §§55–57 (6). Bill Identity Across Terms. Petitions may be relinked to reintroduced bills with substantially the same intent, verified by SOS within 5 session days, subject to a 5-day public objection period (5). Discharge Target. Forces discharge from committee to the floor calendar or prioritization within 30 session days. Chamber Sequencing. Triggers apply to the chamber of origin. Upon passage, a new 30-session-day clock starts in the second chamber. Calendaring. Certified bills must be placed on the chamber calendar within 30 session days; otherwise, the House or Senate Clerk shall place the bill on the floor calendar.
Eligible Entities. All school districts and intermediate school districts (ISDs) recognized by the Michigan Association of School Boards as of January 1, 2025. Thresholds. • Statutory bills: resolutions from ≥ 1/3 of eligible entities. • Constitutional amendments: resolutions from ≥ 2/5 of eligible entities. • Filing window: 270 calendar days. Verification, Safeguards, Follows Intent, Independence, Bill Identity, Discharge Target, Chamber Sequencing, Calendaring. As in §55.
Eligible Entities. All counties recognized by the Michigan Association of Counties as of January 1, 2025. Thresholds. • Statutory bills: resolutions from ≥ 1/3 of counties. • Constitutional amendments: resolutions from ≥ 2/5 of counties. • Filing window: 270 calendar days. Verification, Safeguards, Follows Intent, Independence, Bill Identity, Discharge Target, Chamber Sequencing, Calendaring. As in §55.
No committee, officer, or authority may delay, block, or refuse to calendar a certified bill. If deadlines are missed, the Clerk must place the bill on the floor calendar within 30 session days. Debate and germane amendments are permitted but may not extend the clock (1). Non-compliance triggers a public Resolution of Non-Compliance within 3 session days, published in the Journal. Advisory hearings may follow within 7 session days, livestreamed and archived for 10 years (7). Courts may issue mandamus for documented failure to calendar certified bills within 30 session days, under a clear-and-convincing evidence standard for willful non-compliance (4). Frivolous challenges or willful delays incur sanctions under MCL 600.2591.
All funding for petitions or resolutions, including in-kind contributions and anonymous donations, must be disclosed within 72 hours per MCL 169.201, with a public, searchable database (3). Non-disclosure or false reports trigger automatic sanctions under MCL 600.2591, enforceable by SOS or the Clerk with expedited Court of Claims review. Fees cover actual verification costs.
All petitions, resolutions, and certifications are public within 5 session days. The SOS/Clerk maintain monthly updated lists of eligible bills, with substantive text posted for at least 72 hours (2). SOS/Clerk shall provide free petition/resolution templates and promulgate verification guidelines within 90 days, consistent with this amendment. Quick FAQ (public-facing). Statutory bills — pick one route: 175,646 signatures, or 845 municipalities, or 199 schools/ISDs, or 28 counties → file; vote in ~30 session days. Constitutional amendments — pick one route: 351,291 signatures, or 1,014 municipalities, or 238 schools/ISDs, or 33 counties → file; vote in ~30 session days. Follows Intent = matches the bill’s main goal (e.g., education funding stays education-focused), verified in ~5 days.
Effective August 19, 2025. Rules implementing verification must be promulgated within 90 days, consistent with Article IV, §§16 and 26 (1). Thresholds balance population and geographic diversity, consistent with equal protection principles (8). Judicial review of Follows-Intent determinations is limited to abuse of discretion by the SOS or Clerk (5). If verification provisions are invalidated, the Board of State Canvassers assumes duties (2). Conflicting parliamentary rules are suspended unless a two-thirds vote cites a specific constitutional or statutory conflict, supported by a public legal memorandum (3). Follows Intent is binding (5). Severability ensures each trigger operates independently (6).
Appendix A. Model Resolution for Local Entities Resolution to Support Discharge of [Bill Number], [Bill Title], [Session Year] WHEREAS, the [City/Village/Township/School District/ISD/County of [Name]] seeks to amplify its constituents’ voice; and WHEREAS, [Bill Number], titled “[Bill Title]”, introduced in the [House/Senate] on [Date], with substantive text publicly posted for at least 72 hours (no shell/placeholder bills), addresses [core subject, e.g., education funding], aligning with community interests; and WHEREAS, Article IV, §§55–57 authorize local entities to compel a floor vote; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the [Entity] supports discharge of [Bill Number] for a recorded yea/nay vote within 30 session days. Attestation of Intent. This resolution aligns with the bill’s core subject, scope, or effect (as evidenced by its title, summary, and sponsor’s public record), verified by the Clerk. Submission Instructions. • File with the Clerk within 270 calendar days. • Include: bill number, title, sponsor, summary, attestation. • Fees: capped at reasonable administrative costs (MCL 168.476). • Verification: Clerk confirms within 30 session days, extendable by 5 (2). • Challenges: capped at 1 per entity, 10 per bill; frivolous claims (lacking new evidence) dismissed within 5 session days (4). • Funding disclosure: All support (including in-kind and anonymous) disclosed within 72 hours per MCL 169.201; non-disclosure or false reports trigger automatic sanctions (MCL 600.2591), enforceable by the Clerk with expedited Court of Claims review. Citizen Petition Template (for public download). “We, the undersigned, request the SOS to compel a recorded yea/nay vote on [Bill Number], ‘[Bill Title],’ introduced on [Date], with substantive text posted for at least 72 hours, aligning with its core subject (e.g., education funding). Signature: ________ Date: ________ Address: ________ (optional, per MCL 168.476). File with SOS within 270 calendar days.”
• Statutory — pick one: 175,646 signatures OR 845 municipalities OR 199 schools/ISDs OR 28 counties → vote in ~30 session days. • Amendment — pick one: 351,291 signatures OR 1,014 municipalities OR 238 schools/ISDs OR 33 counties → vote in ~30 session days. • Cost: Verification funded by existing SOS/Clerk resources; audited publicly. • Anti-Fraud: Public audit trails + automatic sanctions (MCL 600.2591). • Follows Intent: Matches the bill’s main goal; verified in ~5 days.
References [1] Wolverine Golf Club v. Sec’y of State, 384 Mich. 461 (1971). [2] Reproductive Freedom for All v. Bd. of State Canvassers, 510 Mich. 885 (2022). [3] Citizens Protecting Mich.’s Const., 503 Mich. 42 (2018). [4] Promote the Vote v. Sec’y of State, 492 Mich. 857 (2012). [5] Taxpayers United v. Sec’y of State, 466 Mich. 886 (2002). [6] Hollingsworth v. Perry, 570 U.S. 693 (2013). [7] McGee v. Civil Serv. Bd., 453 Mich. 1 (1996). [8] Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533 (1964).