State Rep. Jenn Hill (D-Marquette) testifies in the House Ethics and Oversight Committee on Dec. 12, 2024 in the Anderson House Office Building.
LANSING, Mich., Dec. 12, 2024 — The final two bills of the Bringing Reforms in Integrity, Transparency and Ethics (BRITE) Act package were voted out of the House Ethics and Oversight Committee today. House Bills 5584 and 5585 will limit the influence of special interests and wealthy donors.
“With these two bills passing out of the House Ethics and Oversight Committee, we are one step closer to making Michigan a ‘briter’ place,” said state Rep. Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn), chair of the committee. “By limiting the influence of special interests and wealthy donors, we are ensuring that politicians truly represent who they are supposed to — the people of our state. That is why I’m proud to see the BRITE Act get one step closer to the finish line.”
State Rep. Jenn Hill (D-Marquette) sponsored HB 5584, which removes the existing annually adjusted “gift” limitation and includes an exemption for tangible or intangible items that do not exceed a fair market value of $20 for a single item or $80 during a three-month period. This bill will update the language for gift limitations for the legislature to mirror those requirements for the executive branch.
“The BRITE Act is a common-sense reform that puts the people of Michigan first,” Hill said. “This legislation cracks down on corruption and makes sure that politicians are working for the people, not special interests or corporate lobbyists.”
State Rep. Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City) sponsored HB 5585, which includes additional reporting requirements of public officers related to their immediate family members, travel payments and receipt of tickets for entertainment events. The bill requires public officers to annually disclose a list of all tickets received for concerts, sporting events and other entertainment that are gifted by another person, as well as all travel paid for by another person with the exception of immediate family members.
“My district has been incredibly vocal about this issue, putting in the highest number of supporting comments in the Ethics and Oversight Committee of any community across the state,” Coffia said. “Ethics is a major issue that the people of my district heavily support, and I’m proud to advocate on this foundational issue. My bill seeks to ensure that lobbying efforts are reported and tracked, making it easier for the public to understand who is lobbying our elected officials.”
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