§ 169.251Independent expenditure of $100.01 or more; report; forwarding copies to filing

officers; late filing fees; violation as misdemeanor.
 Sec. 51.
    (1) A person, other than a committee, that makes an independent expenditure, advocating
 the election or defeat of a candidate or the qualification, passage, or defeat of a ballot question,
 in an amount of $100.01 or more in a calendar year shall file a report of the independent
 expenditure, within 10 days after making that independent expenditure, with the clerk of the
 county of residence of that person. If the independent expenditure advocates the election or
 defeat of a candidate for state elective office or for judicial office, or for the qualification,
 passage, or defeat of a statewide ballot question, or if the person making the independent
 expenditure is not a resident of this state, the person shall file the report with the secretary of
 state in lieu of filing with a clerk of a county. The report required under this section must be
 made on an independent expenditure report form provided by the secretary of state, include
 the date of the expenditure, a brief description of the nature of the expenditure, the amount, the
 name and address of the person to whom it was paid, the name and address of the person filing
 the report, together with the name, address, occupation, employer, and principal place of
 business of each person that contributed $100.01 or more to the expenditure, and identify the
 candidate or ballot question for or against which the independent expenditure was made. The
 filing official receiving the report shall forward copies, as required, to the appropriate filing
 officers as described in section 36.



                                                                       Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 9 of 2026
Rendered Saturday, May 2, 2026                    Page 46 of 64                                Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov

    (2) If a person fails to file a report as required under this section, that person shall pay a late
 filing fee. If the person has made independent expenditures totaling less than $10,000.00, the
 late filing fee is $25.00 for each business day the report remains unfiled, but not to exceed
 $1,000.00. If the person has made independent expenditures totaling $10,000.00 or more, the
 late filing fee is $50.00 for each business day the report remains unfiled, but not to exceed
 $5,000.00. A person that violates this subsection by failing to file a report required under this
 section for more than 30 days after the report is required to be filed is guilty of a misdemeanor
 punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or
 both.