HB 4699 Michigan House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Elections: local; term of office start date for township officers; modify. Amends secs. 362 & 370 of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.362 & 168.370).

HB 4699 changes the start date for terms of elected township officers in Michigan. For officers elected after December 31, 2024, terms will begin at 12 noon on December 1 following the election (previously November 20). The bill also updates vacancy procedures, requiring township boards to fill vacancies within 45 days or triggering a special election if unaddressed. This affects all township officers, including trustees and supervisors, across Michigan by standardizing when they assume office.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jun 2025

Committee Review

Sep 2025

House Passage

Sep 2025

Senate Passage

Sep 2025

Governor

Introduced Jun 26, 2025 Last action Sep 9, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

House Introduced Bill → As Passed by the House · 4 edits · Sep 3, 2025

MODERATE

The bill amends Michigan election law to clarify procedures for filling vacancies in township offices. It introduces a new requirement for political party committees to submit nominees for special elections within 15 days of the vacancy declaration and extends the timeline for holding these special elections to ensure proper notice. Additionally, it adds specific rules for township constables, allowing their offices to remain vacant until the next election if not filled by appointment.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on township election procedures, but it expands the process for filling vacancies by adding party nomination requirements and specific provisions for constables.

REQUIREMENT

Requires county party committees to submit nominees for special elections within 15 days after the county clerk calls the election.

Adds specific rules for township constable vacancies, allowing them to remain vacant until the next general or special election if the township board does not appoint a replacement.

TIMELINE

Extends the deadline for holding special elections to ensure at least 60 or 70 days pass after the nominee submission deadline, depending on the next regular election date.

TECHNICAL

Corrects grammatical errors and clarifies phrasing regarding term lengths and start dates for township officers elected in 2025.

Floor votes · House Sep 3, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Sep 9, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS AND ETHICS

upper

Sep 9, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED BY HOUSE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

upper

Sep 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

passed; given immediate effect Roll Call #185 Yeas 105 Nays 0 Excused 0 Not Voting 5

lower

Jul 15, 2025

Committee

referred to second reading

lower

Jul 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

reported with recommendation without amendment

lower

Jun 26, 2025

Committee

per Rule 40 referred to Committee on Election Integrity

lower

Jun 26, 2025

Committee

referred to Committee on Government Operations

lower

Jun 26, 2025

Introduced

introduced by Representative Rep. Joseph Fox

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors