Local Official Lobbying Restrictions

Current understanding

HB5506 (103rd Legislature) would amend Michigan’s 1978 PA 472 (the lobby act, MCL 4.411–4.431) by adding a section 6b to prohibit certain local officials from acting as lobbyists outside the course and scope of their official office. This extends the state-level lobbying ethics framework — previously focused on legislators and executive branch officers — down to local government officeholders. Specific covered officials, penalties, and enforcement mechanism to be captured from bill text. Status: passed chamber.

Evidence log

• 2026-06-17 — Public employees and officers: ethics; certain local officials acting as lobbyists outside of the course and scope of the official’s office; prohibit. Amends 1978 PA 472 (MCL 4.411 - 4.431) by adding sec. 6b.: cross-connection with former-legislator-lobbying-restrictions: Both amend 1978 PA 472 to restrict lobbying by public officials; HB5506 extends the ethics regime downward to local officials while HB4062 targets former legislators. (novelty: 2)

Open questions

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