A Michigan ballot proposal seeks to limit political spending by certain corporations and utilities in state elections, following unsuccessful attempts to pass related legislation.
The measure would prohibit companies holding more than $250,000 in annual state contracts, along with regulated gas and electric utilities, from making political contributions [1]. It would also extend restrictions to individuals and groups with close ties to those entities, such as lobbyists or executive family members.
Proponents formed a coalition in 2022 focused initially on voting rights before shifting in 2023 to campaign finance reforms known as the Taking Back Our Power bills [1]. Those bills were not advanced by the Government Operations Committee despite a Democratic majority in the legislature.
After reintroduction in early 2025 produced no movement, organizers turned to a citizen-initiated ballot measure to achieve the same goals [1]. The effort is described as addressing the dominance of corporate PAC contributions in Michigan elections.
The proposal is reported to affect at least 900 companies, though independent verification of that estimate and broader impacts is not yet available from additional sources.