Constitutional Ban on Entity Election & Ballot Spending (HJR)

Current understanding

A proposed joint resolution (HJR Z, 103rd Legislature, 2026) would amend the Michigan Constitution by adding Section 55 to Article IV to revoke the power of entities — businesses, LLCs, nonprofits, and other organizations — to spend money in elections or on ballot issues. If adopted and ratified by voters, it would elevate the statutory prohibitions proposed in the HB 6216–6218 package to a constitutional rule, insulating the ban from ordinary legislative repeal. Status: introduced.

Evidence log

• 2026-07-02 — Businesses: other; power of entities to spend in elections or ballot issues; revoke. Amends the state constitution by adding sec. 55 to art. IV.: cross-connection with business-corporation-election-spending: The HJR proposing Art. IV § 55 would constitutionalize the same restriction HB 6218 imposes statutorily on business corporations. (novelty: 4)
• 2026-07-03 — Businesses: other; power of entities to spend in elections or ballot issues; revoke. Amends the state constitution by adding sec. 55 to art. IV.: cross-connection with llc-election-spending-corporate-law: HJR Z proposes a constitutional version of the entity spending ban that HB 6216 implements statutorily for LLCs. (novelty: 3)

Open questions

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