Legislative Analysis
Phone: (517) 373-8080
EXCEPTION FOR DE MINIMIS LOBBYIST GIFTS
http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
House Bill 5584 as introduced Analysis available at
Sponsor: Rep. Jenn Hill http://www.legislature.mi.gov
Committee: Ethics and Oversight
Complete to 12-11-24
SUMMARY:
House Bill 5584 would amend 1978 PA 472, known as the lobbyist registration act, to provide
that things given to a public official by a lobbyist that are of a negligible value below specified
amounts are not prohibited “gifts” under the act.
The act prohibits lobbyists from giving public officials a payment, advance, forbearance, or
money, services, or anything of value, that has a value of more than $76 in any one-month
period. The act then lists some things that this prohibition does not apply to, and so allows
them to be given to public officials by lobbyists.
Under the bill, the above prohibition would not apply to a lobbyist’s giving an official anything
of value that is so de minimis (i.e., so small as to be beneath consideration) that its receipt by
the elected official 1 could not reasonably be expected to influence how the public official
performs work or makes decisions, including attendance at a conference, a training session, or
another meeting if attendance is primarily for the benefit of the state and the expenses incurred
by the elected official would be reimbursable items under the applicable travel regulations or
other policies. Except for those properly reimbursable expenses, anything of value that is so de
minimis as described above could not exceed either of the following limits:
• A single tangible or intangible item with a fair market value of over $20.
• A combination of tangible and intangible items during any three-month period with an
aggregate fair market value of more than $80.
MCL 4.414
FISCAL IMPACT:
House Bill 5584 would have no fiscal impact on the state or local units of government.
Legislative Analyst: Rick Yuille
Fiscal Analyst: Michael Cnossen
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their
deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
1
The act generally applies to individuals in both the executive and legislative branches of government, both elected
and nonelected. The bill would limit its provisions to apply only those individuals in either branch who have been
elected to office.
House Fiscal Agency Page 1 of 1


Statutes affected:
Substitute (H-1): 4.414
House Introduced Bill: 4.414