Canvassers approve summary for referendum to pause Public Act 1 of 2025 on wages

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers on June 27 approved a 100‑word summary for a referendum petition titled “Stop Pay Cuts” that would suspend and place Public Act 1 of 2025 on the ballot for voter approval or rejection.

James Lancaster, an attorney for the petitioners, asked the board to approve a short, direct statement describing the referendum’s purpose: to repeal Public Act 1 of 2025. Opponents and some board members pressed for more detail, particularly about the statute’s effects on tipped‑worker wages and the way inflation adjustments are calculated.

Andrea Hansen, counsel for the group opposing the referendum, told the board the act was a bipartisan compromise that increased the minimum wage while preserving a tip credit; she said a fair summary must note the precise implementation dates and how the legislature may implement the measure. Petition opponent Eric Doster urged the board to include in the summary “the undeniable facts” he said voters needed to know — for example, how ranked tabulations and tipped wages would change — and proposed language that explicitly described ballot exhaustion and possible delays in results (raised earlier in the meeting during ranked‑choice discussion).

After debate the board approved a summary drafted by the deputy director and moved to conditionally approve the referendum petition form. During the meeting the canvassers also agreed staff would accept an updated petition form with the board‑approved summary ahead of a July 10 follow‑up meeting for final form approval if sponsors revise text.

Actions: the board approved the summary for the referendum to suspend Public Act 1 of 2025 and conditionally approved the petition form; staff will accept a revised form and return on July 10 for final form action.