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Rep. Regas urges law to require attorney general review when secretary of state faces campaign-finance complaints
Summary
Representative Regas presented House Bill 4642 to require the attorney general to review campaign-finance complaints against the secretary of state and to create enforcement pathways including informal resolutions, civil fines or criminal penalties, with public disclosure requirements.
Representative Regas told the House Committee on Election Integrity that House Bill 4642 would require the attorney general to review campaign-finance complaints involving the secretary of state and create clear enforcement procedures, ranging from informal resolutions to civil fines or criminal penalties.
Regas framed HB 4642 as a narrow, corrective bill prompted by the attorney general’s recent finding that Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson violated campaign-finance rules but faced no enforcement due to existing procedures. “This bill is a relatively simple but critical fix that requires the secretary of state to refer campaign finance violation complaints to the attorney general,” Regas said.
What the bill would do: According to Regas’s presentation, HB 4642 would compel referral to the attorney general for determination of whether a violation occurred and would mandate public disclosure of complaints and any resulting agreements. Regas said the bill creates a menu of enforcement responses, including informal resolution, civil fines or, where appropriate, criminal penalties.
Questions from members: Representative Outman said officials who use state resources for campaign purposes should face consequences and asked what punishments should apply; Regas said the attorney general should investigate and judges would determine penalties. Representative Song asked why the committee was not addressing additional campaign-law issues such as candidate address requirements; Regas said HB 4642 is narrowly tailored to the secretary of state matter and invited other members to introduce separate legislation for related topics. Representative Hoadley asked whether the bill applies only to the secretary of state; Regas said yes, it is specific to that office.
Public testimony: Melanie Macey of Promote the Vote and representatives of the Michigan Association of County Clerks and the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks appeared on the witness list in support of the bill but did not speak on the record. One other individual on the sign-in list, Sherry Ritchie of Pure Integrity Michigan Elections, was recorded as supporting the bill.
Ending: Regas closed by reiterating the bill’s purpose as an enforcement fix and said he would work with colleagues on any additional related proposals.
