MLC Insider Intelligence: August 14, 2026
Michigan Legislative Consultants
Weekly Recap: The House and Senate are on their reduced summer schedule and didn’t hold session or committees this week.
Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Picks Running Mate: Congressman John James, the Republican candidate for governor, announced his selection of a running mate for lieutenant governor. He selected Representative Jay DeBoyer, a second-term State Representative from St. Clair County in southeast Michigan. The Michigan Republican Party is hosting its nominating convention on Saturday, August 22, to officially nominate the candidate for Lt. Governor, among other offices.
Representative DeBoyer: He currently serves as Chair of the House Oversight Committee and is an Associate Speaker Pro Tempore. Before his election to the legislature, he spent 12 years as clerk and register of deeds for St. Clair County. Additionally, he serves as Clay Township’s trustee and supervisor. Representative DeBoyer has been a small business owner since 1994.
Open Seat: Prior to the announcement, Representative DeBoyer was running for a third term representing the 63rdHouse District. The local party will choose a replacement to run for the seat this November as the Republican candidate.
Resolution Regarding Passed Legislation Announced: Representative Regina Weiss (D-Oak Park) announced a resolution in response to a recent situation in which nine bills passed the legislature but weren’t presented to the governor until ordered by the courts. The issue began when Speaker of the House Matt Hall (R-Kalamazoo) assumed his leadership role in January 2025. The bills had passed both the House and Senate at the end of 2024 but weren’t presented to the governor at the conclusion of that term. Speaker Hall declined to present them to Governor Whitmer, starting a legal challenge from the Michigan Senate, which was recently ended by the Supreme Court and the Governor’s veto of the bills after presentment.
Key Points: House Joint Resolution AA was introduced this week and referred to the House Government Operations Committee for consideration. It mandates the process for the clerks to move bills so they cannot be held up by administrative maneuvering. A joint resolution amends the Michigan Constitution and requires a two-thirds vote by the legislature in order for it to be put before voters on a statewide ballot.
Importance: “The legislative process should be transparent, predictable and accountable. Regardless of the policy or the party in power, bills that have been duly passed should move through the administrative process without unnecessary delays or procedural gamesmanship. This resolution helps ensure that the will of the Legislature is carried out in a timely and consistent manner, so no future legislation is left in limbo.”
Energy Affordability Recommendations Presented: The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) released a list of actions that the Michigan legislature could take to tackle energy affordability. The recommendations came in response to a June letter from Governor Gretchen Whitmer asking the MPSC to identify ways to lower utility bills for residents through both legislative reforms and options for new and improved energy assistance programs.
Overarching Proposals: The MPSC detailed a set of recommendations, chief among them ending the pattern of annual rate cases, realigning utility incentives to focus more on core reliability and affordability objectives, removing costs that add to customer bills without adding value, and increasing competitive bidding and other opportunities to drive down costs within the current regulatory system.
Specific Recommendations: The commission is recommending moving to multi-year rate cases, tying utility earnings to cost efficiency and improved performance outcomes for customers, and aligning eligibility for low-income rates and credits with eligibility for MEAP assistance. Additionally, it’s calling on the legislature to codify the protections the MPSC has adopted to ensure data centers cover 100% of the costs they impose on the system.
Non-Citizens Charged for Voting: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced charges against five non-citizens alleged to have voted in Michigan’s 2024 November general election and one U.S. citizen alleged to have registered their non-citizen spouse to vote.
Investigations: Throughout 2025, the Michigan Department of State referred to the Department of Attorney General 16 cases of suspected non-citizen voting in the 2024 general election. In 2026, an additional 22 cases have been referred concerning suspected non-citizen voting or adjacent conduct in elections spanning from 2009 to 2025. Six cases have resulted in criminal charges, ten have been closed without charges, and 22 remain under review.
Importance: “In my office, we’ve always taken election crimes seriously, and prosecute attacks on our voting systems to the fullest extent of the law,” said Attorney General Nessel. “We’re upholding election integrity by investigating all claims of non-citizen voters, as rare as they are, and holding bad actors accountable when they refuse to abide by the laws that keep our elections safe and secure. These charges reflect the severity of the allegations, the sanctity of our democracy, and the tremendous consequences of voting illegally— whether that’s done to try and ‘test’ security measures or to make an unlawful vote count.”
Spotlight On Representative Alicia St. Germaine: Representative St. Germaine (R-Harrison Twp.) is serving her second term in the Michigan House of Representatives. Prior to her election to the House, she was self-employed and worked with small business owners and their employees.
District: The 62nd House District includes Fraser and Harrison Township, and portions of Chesterfield, Clinton Township, Roseville, and St. Clair Shores.
Committees:
Natural Resources and Tourism, vice chair
Education and Workforce
Health Policy
Economic Competitiveness
We asked Representative St. Germaine a few questions to learn more about her:
What’s your favorite travel destination outside of Michigan?
A – Florida, since that is where a lot of my family moved to.
What’s your favorite hobby other than politics?
A – Boating, snowmobiling, and off-road trail riding.
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
A – Rich
What’s your favorite game to play or sport to watch and/or play?
A – Bowling with friends.
Next Week: The House and Senate are continuing their summer schedule, and neither session nor committees are scheduled to meet.
Non-Profit Organizations: With the midterm election a few months away, MLC client Butzel wrote an overview for tax-exempt organizations regarding public policy, lobbying, and political activities. The attorneys who authored the piece provide a synopsis of the laws that outline what nonprofit organizations can and cannot do.