State Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia) and State Senator Jonathan Lindsey (R-Allen) today introduced House Bill 4642 and Senate Bill 422, a critical amendment to the Michigan Campaign Finance Act (MCFA) aimed at closing a loophole that allows the Secretary of State to evade accountability for campaign finance violations. The plan responds to Attorney General Dana Nessel’s recent finding that Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson violated the MCFA yet faced no consequences due to a lack of enforcement mechanisms.

The legislation requires complaints involving the Secretary of State, their family, or connected campaigns to be referred to the Attorney General for investigation. It establishes clear procedures for addressing violations through informal resolutions, civil fines, or criminal penalties, while ensuring transparency by mandating public disclosure of complaints and agreements.

“This bill is about restoring trust in our electoral system,” said Rigas said. “No one, especially not the Secretary of State, should be immune from accountability. We’re fixing a broken system to ensure fairness and uphold the law.”

“No one should be above the law,” said Lindsey. “Yet the current situation allows the Secretary of State to evade accountability. Recently, Attorney General Dana Nessel found Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson violated the MCFA but said there are no enforcement mechanisms to hold her accountable. This bill would create accountability for the SOS.”

“Secretary Benson’s failures in office are evident, and her violation of the MCFA is not surprising given her pattern of disregarding the rules,” Lindsey said. “Our bill will implement measures to ensure that no Secretary of State can violate the law without consequence.”

Rigas and Lindsay hope their colleagues support the bill to strengthen Michigan’s campaign finance laws and protect the integrity of the state’s elections.

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