State Reps. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor), right, and Julie Brixie (D-Meridian Township) testify in the House Ethics and Oversight Committee on Dec. 5, 2024, in the Anderson House Office Building.
LANSING, Mich., Dec. 5, 2024 — Two more bills from the Bring Reforms in Integrity, Transparency and Ethics (BRITE) Act package passed out of the House Ethics and Oversight Committee today. House Bills 5580 and 5582 require that 527 and 501(c)4s file the name of the organization and the name of the elected official they are affiliated with to the Secretary of State, beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
“With the passage of these bills out of committee, we are one step closer to making Michigan a ‘briter’ place,” said state Rep. Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn), chair of the committee. “This legislation will improve transparency and accountability in Michigan’s campaign finance laws. Transparency is the cornerstone of a healthy democracy, and it’s critical that we demonstrate to the Michigan people our commitment to this principle as public servants.”
HB 5580, sponsored by state Rep. Julie Brixie (D-Meridian Township), would require 527 and 501(c)4s affiliated with state elected officials and candidates to file a registration form with the Secretary of State beginning in January 2026.
“Right now, we are completely in the dark about who is behind these accounts, and the Secretary of State and Attorney General have no starting point to identify bad actors,” Brixie said. “Our constituents expect us to hold ourselves to higher standards. This is an important first step in building trust in our democracy and putting the public at the forefront of government policy.”
HB 5582, sponsored by state Rep. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor), would amend the definitions of elected officials and 527/501(c)4 groups affiliated with elected officials and candidates.
“We can’t help the people if we are not accountable to them,” Morgan said. “Existing laws leave too much room for bad actors to exploit our political system – leaving voters voiceless and disenchanted with our political process. Today’s advancement of these bills is an important step in the right direction, demonstrating our commitment to transparency and rebuilding trust in government.”
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