Eight Ballot Issues Crowd the November Ballot

State of Michigan
Statewide Update on Ballot Proposals
November 8, 2016 General Election

In Michigan, there are three tools for citizens to place proposals on the ballot, which is an initiative to amend the state constitution, an initiative to propose statute legislation, and the power of citizens to invoke the referendum. For citizens initiating a statute, a petition must receive enough valid signatures (252,523). If enough signatures are collected, the proposal goes to the Legislature, which will have 40 days to approve or reject the legislation. If approved, it would become law without needing the governor's signature. If it is rejected by lawmakers, it then would go on the November 2016 ballot. Petitioners have 180 days to collect signatures. Signatures older than 180 days at the time of filing will be presumed stale and void. Petitions for statutes must be filed 160 days prior to election.

For a citizen led constitutional amendment, a petition must contain sufficient signatures (315,654), then the measure is placed directly on the next general election ballot. Amendment petitions must be filed 120 days prior to the election. Lastly, citizens also have the power to repeal legislation via veto referendum. The number of registered voters needed to invoke the referendum is 5 percent of the total vote cast for all candidates for governor at the last gubernatorial election. The Michigan State Legislature can also place a measure on the ballot as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment, like the recent road funding proposal this past May. Proposed amendments must be agreed to by 2/3rds of the members elected to and serving in each house of the Michigan State Legislature in order for the amendment to go to the ballot.

We are currently seeing a flurry of activity for statewide ballot measures that have been filed, are being reviewed, or have begun the circulation process for obtaining signatures to be placed on the 2016 election ballot. We have included an update of all statewide ballot proposals here in Michigan, including the links to the full text of each proposal and the campaign finance report summary.

STOP OVERCHARGING: Proposed initiated law to enact the Fair Medical Prices for Consumers Act to prohibit a health provider from charging a higher price for medical goods or services than a price charged to other persons for the same or similar medical goods or services.

Status: Initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State on October 16, 2014 and approved as to form by the Board of State Canvassers on October 20, 2014.

Full Text of Proposal: For the full text of the proposal, click here.

Campaign Finance Update: For the campaign finance update, click here.

COMMITTEE TO BAN FRACKING IN MICHIGAN: Proposed initiated law to amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to prohibit the use of horizontal hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) and acid completion treatments of horizontal gas and oil wells.

Status: Initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State on April 9, 2015 and approved as to form by the Board of State Canvassers on April 14, 2015.

Full Text of Proposal: For the full text of the proposal, click here.

Campaign Finance Update: For the campaign finance update, click here.

PROTECTING MICHIGAN TAXPAYERS: Proposed initiated law to repeal the Prevailing Wages and Fringe Benefits Act, Public Act 166 of 1965.

Status: Initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State on May 22, 2015 and approved as to form by the Board of State Canvassers on May 26, 2015.

Full Text of Proposal: For the full text of the proposal, click here.

Campaign Finance Update: For the campaign finance update, click here.

MICHIGAN CANNABIS COALITION: Proposed initiated law to create the Michigan Cannabis Control and Revenue Act. The proposed law would not directly establish any taxes on retail marijuana sales. Instead, it would allow the state Legislature to establish a tax. The proposal does not recommend any specific rate but does specify that any revenue shall be used "for the purposes of administration of this act, education, public safety and public health."

Status: Initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State on May 29, 2015 and approved as to form by the Board of State Canvassers on June 11, 2015.

Full Text of Proposal: For the full text of the proposal, click here.

Campaign Finance Update: For the campaign finance update, click here.

MICHIGAN COMPREHENSIVE CANNABIS LAW REFORM COMMITTEE: Proposed initiated law to create the Michigan Marihuana Legalization, Regulation, and Economic Stimulus Act. Anyone over the age of 21 would be allowed to purchase, possess or use marijuana without fear of prosecution at the state or local level. The law would also apply to marijuana products, such as edibles. A person could transfer up to 2.5 ounces and consume on private property. The proposal also includes language to legalize hemp farming.

Status: Initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State on June 10, 2015 and approved as to form by the Board of State Canvassers on June 11, 2015.

Full Text of Proposal: For the full text of the proposal, click here.

Campaign Finance Update: For the campaign finance update, click here.

RAISE MICHIGAN: Proposed initiated law to create the Earned Sick Time Act. This proposal would require employers to allow employees to earn sick time to deal with health, personal or family issues. Employees of small businesses could earn 1 hour for every 30 worked up to 40 hours of paid sick leave a year. All other employees would earn 1 hour for every 30 worked up to 72 hours in a year.

Status: Initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State on July 13, 2015 and approved as to form by the Board of State Canvassers on July 30, 2015.

Full Text of Proposal: For the full text of the proposal, click here.

Campaign Finance Update: For the campaign finance update, click here.

CITIZENS FOR FAIR TAXES: Proposed initiated law to create the Corporate Fair Share of Taxes Act. The Corporate Fair Share Taxes Act would increase the state’s corporate income tax from 6% to 11% and earmark that money towards fixing Michigan’s roads.

Status: Initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State on July 28, 2015 and approved as to form by the Board of State Canvassers on July 30, 2015.

Full Text of Proposal: For the full text of the proposal, click here.

Campaign Finance Update: No filings to date.

LET’S VOTE MICHIGAN: Proposed constitutional amendment to amend Art. II, §4 of the Michigan Constitution to require voting by mail. The proposal would amend the state constitution to establish voting by mail for all Michigan elections. Three states - Oregon, Colorado and Washington - have vote-by-mail options.

Status: Initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State on July 28, 2015 and approved as to form by the Board of State Canvassers on July 30, 2015.

Full Text of Proposal: For the full text of the proposal, click here.

Campaign Finance Update: No filings to date.

State of Michigan
Statewide Update on Ballot Proposals
November 8, 2016 General Election

In Michigan, there are three tools for citizens to place proposals on the ballot, which is an initiative to amend the state constitution, an initiative to propose statute legislation, and the power of citizens to invoke the referendum. For citizens initiating a statute, a petition must receive enough valid signatures (252,523). If enough signatures are collected, the proposal goes to the Legislature, which will have 40 days to approve or reject the legislation. If approved, it would become law without needing the governor's signature. If it is rejected by lawmakers, it then would go on the November 2016 ballot. Petitioners have 180 days to collect signatures. Signatures older than 180 days at the time of filing will be presumed stale and void. Petitions for statutes must be filed 160 days prior to election.

For a citizen led constitutional amendment, a petition must contain sufficient signatures (315,654), then the measure is placed directly on the next general election ballot. Amendment petitions must be filed 120 days prior to the election. Lastly, citizens also have the power to repeal legislation via veto referendum. The number of registered voters needed to invoke the referendum is 5 percent of the total vote cast for all candidates for governor at the last gubernatorial election. The Michigan State Legislature can also place a measure on the ballot as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment, like the recent road funding proposal this past May. Proposed amendments must be agreed to by 2/3rds of the members elected to and serving in each house of the Michigan State Legislature in order for the amendment to go to the ballot.

We are currently seeing a flurry of activity for statewide ballot measures that have been filed, are being reviewed, or have begun the circulation process for obtaining signatures to be placed on the 2016 election ballot. We have included an update of all statewide ballot proposals here in Michigan, including the links to the full text of each proposal and the campaign finance report summary.

STOP OVERCHARGING: Proposed initiated law to enact the Fair Medical Prices for Consumers Act to prohibit a health provider from charging a higher price for medical goods or services than a price charged to other persons for the same or similar medical goods or services.

Status: Initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State on October 16, 2014 and approved as to form by the Board of State Canvassers on October 20, 2014.

Full Text of Proposal: For the full text of the proposal, click here.

Campaign Finance Update: For the campaign finance update, click here.

COMMITTEE TO BAN FRACKING IN MICHIGAN: Proposed initiated law to amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to prohibit the use of horizontal hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) and acid completion treatments of horizontal gas and oil wells.

Status: Initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State on April 9, 2015 and approved as to form by the Board of State Canvassers on April 14, 2015.

Full Text of Proposal: For the full text of the proposal, click here.

Campaign Finance Update: For the campaign finance update, click here.

PROTECTING MICHIGAN TAXPAYERS: Proposed initiated law to repeal the Prevailing Wages and Fringe Benefits Act, Public Act 166 of 1965.

Status: Initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State on May 22, 2015 and approved as to form by the Board of State Canvassers on May 26, 2015.

Full Text of Proposal: For the full text of the proposal, click here.

Campaign Finance Update: For the campaign finance update, click here.

MICHIGAN CANNABIS COALITION: Proposed initiated law to create the Michigan Cannabis Control and Revenue Act. The proposed law would not directly establish any taxes on retail marijuana sales. Instead, it would allow the state Legislature to establish a tax. The proposal does not recommend any specific rate but does specify that any revenue shall be used "for the purposes of administration of this act, education, public safety and public health."

Status: Initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State on May 29, 2015 and approved as to form by the Board of State Canvassers on June 11, 2015.

Full Text of Proposal: For the full text of the proposal, click here.

Campaign Finance Update: For the campaign finance update, click here.

MICHIGAN COMPREHENSIVE CANNABIS LAW REFORM COMMITTEE: Proposed initiated law to create the Michigan Marihuana Legalization, Regulation, and Economic Stimulus Act. Anyone over the age of 21 would be allowed to purchase, possess or use marijuana without fear of prosecution at the state or local level. The law would also apply to marijuana products, such as edibles. A person could transfer up to 2.5 ounces and consume on private property. The proposal also includes language to legalize hemp farming.

Status: Initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State on June 10, 2015 and approved as to form by the Board of State Canvassers on June 11, 2015.

Full Text of Proposal: For the full text of the proposal, click here.

Campaign Finance Update: For the campaign finance update, click here.

RAISE MICHIGAN: Proposed initiated law to create the Earned Sick Time Act. This proposal would require employers to allow employees to earn sick time to deal with health, personal or family issues. Employees of small businesses could earn 1 hour for every 30 worked up to 40 hours of paid sick leave a year. All other employees would earn 1 hour for every 30 worked up to 72 hours in a year.

Status: Initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State on July 13, 2015 and approved as to form by the Board of State Canvassers on July 30, 2015.

Full Text of Proposal: For the full text of the proposal, click here.

Campaign Finance Update: For the campaign finance update, click here.

CITIZENS FOR FAIR TAXES: Proposed initiated law to create the Corporate Fair Share of Taxes Act. The Corporate Fair Share Taxes Act would increase the state’s corporate income tax from 6% to 11% and earmark that money towards fixing Michigan’s roads.

Status: Initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State on July 28, 2015 and approved as to form by the Board of State Canvassers on July 30, 2015.

Full Text of Proposal: For the full text of the proposal, click here.

Campaign Finance Update: No filings to date.

LET’S VOTE MICHIGAN: Proposed constitutional amendment to amend Art. II, §4 of the Michigan Constitution to require voting by mail. The proposal would amend the state constitution to establish voting by mail for all Michigan elections. Three states - Oregon, Colorado and Washington - have vote-by-mail options.

Status: Initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State on July 28, 2015 and approved as to form by the Board of State Canvassers on July 30, 2015.

Full Text of Proposal: For the full text of the proposal, click here.

Campaign Finance Update: No filings to date.