The proposed bill amends the Michigan Campaign Finance Act by adding Section 30a, which establishes restrictions on contributions to committees of judges and supreme court justices. Specifically, it prohibits individuals from making contributions if they are parties to any legal matters pending before the judge or justice. Additionally, independent or political committees are barred from contributing if they are primarily funded by members of a limited liability company that is involved in a pending action, or if an officer of that company is a party to the matter. The bill also requires these committees to disclose their funding sources and any relevant affiliations when making contributions.

Furthermore, the bill outlines penalties for violations of these provisions, classifying them as misdemeanors punishable by imprisonment or fines. It specifies that contributions from prohibited sources must be returned within seven days to avoid penalties for the incumbent judges or justices and their committees. The treasurer of such committees is also held accountable for accepting contributions in violation of this section. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the integrity of the judicial election process by preventing conflicts of interest related to campaign contributions.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 169.201, 169.282