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House Ethics Committee adopts H‑1 substitute limiting lobbyist gifts, reports HB 5584 to floor
Summary
The House Committee on Ethics and Oversight adopted an H‑1 substitute to House Bill 5584, setting a $20 per‑gift cap and a $80 per‑three‑month cap on gifts from lobbyists to elected officials and staff, then reported the bill to the full House by voice/roll call.
Representative Nikki Hill (testifying on HB 5584) told the House Committee on Ethics and Oversight that the bill would "establish a reasonable and clear framework for lobbyists' gifts" and argued it would help preserve public trust by limiting gifts that could create an appearance of impropriety. Under the H‑1 substitute adopted by the committee, the bill sets a de minimis threshold of $20 for an individual gift and a $80 cap on the total fair‑market value of gifts over a three‑month period.
The bill, part of the BRIGHT Act package, was presented to align legislative rules with existing executive‑branch de minimis limits. Hill said the substitute clarifies that the de minimis threshold is based on "total fair market value, regardless if the cost is split among more than one individual," and that reimbursements for bona fide work‑related conference expenses would still be allowed under state reimbursement rules.
Members questioned how to determine "fair market value" in practice. Representative Breen asked, "How are we supposed to know what the fair market value is?" citing tickets and event access as examples. Witnesses said the bill follows the civil service standard used for executive branch employees and that other pending legislation in the Senate may provide additional definitional guidance.
Erin Shore of the Michigan Secretary of State's office, listed on a committee card of support, confirmed the bill's scope focuses on lobby organizations and said "the meal exemption that's currently in the law is not changing here." Committee members also discussed distinctions between educational conference attendance and lobbying; witnesses said bona fide educational events would generally be excluded from the gift definition but would still be subject to disclosure or reimbursement rules when applicable.
After discussion, Representative Breen moved to adopt the H‑1 substitute. The clerk took the roll and the chair announced the motion prevailed with 6 ayes, 0 nays and 3 pass. Representative Hope then moved to report HB 5584 with recommendation as the H‑1 substitute; the clerk's roll again produced a committee result reported as 6 yeas, 0 nays and 3 pass, and the bill was reported out of committee.
What happens next: HB 5584, as reported with the H‑1 substitute, will move to the House floor for further consideration. The committee did not adopt a detailed, committee‑level definition of fair‑market value; members and witnesses indicated additional legislative work on that point may follow.
