The bill amends section 16c of the 1851 PA 156, which outlines the powers and duties of county boards of commissioners in Michigan, specifically regarding the process of township consolidation. Key changes include the requirement that the county clerk must notify affected township clerks of the election date for consolidation, which must be set on or before May 1 in the year of a general November election. The language regarding the election date has been updated from "shall" to "must," emphasizing the necessity of this timeline. Additionally, the bill specifies that the ballot for the consolidation election must include updated references to the charter township act, replacing previous language that referred to the Public Acts of 1947.

Further amendments include the adjustment of the effective date of an approved consolidation from November 20 to December 1 following the election, and the scheduling of elections for the township board of the consolidated township to occur during the May primary and November general elections, rather than in August. The bill also stipulates that if the consolidation is not approved by a majority of voters in each township, the petition proceedings will terminate. The enactment of this bill is contingent upon the passage of Senate Bill No. 691 of the 103rd Legislature and is set to take effect on January 1, 2028.

Statutes affected:
Substitute (S-1): 46.16
Senate Introduced Bill: 46.16
As Passed by the Senate: 46.16