MLC Insider Intelligence: February 6, 2026
Michigan Legislative Consultants
House Prohibits Foreign Campaign Donations: The Michigan House passed legislation prohibiting a foreign national from providing support for ballot questions in Michigan elections. The proposal would apply to a non-US citizen or permanent resident, a foreign government or political party, or an entity headquartered outside of the United States.
Key Points: House Bill 5197 was introduced by Representative Rachelle Smit (R-Shelbyville), chair of the Election Integrity Committee. It bans contributions toward the qualification, passage, or defeat of a ballot question, including directly or indirectly soliciting donations, contributions, or expenditures. Additionally, it prohibits a ballot question committee from knowingly accepting contributions from a foreign national. Violations of the provisions in the legislation could result in a civil fine.
Next Steps: The bill will be sent to the Senate for consideration.
Education Program Reaches Milestone: This year marks the fifth anniversary of Michigan Reconnect, the state’s tuition-free community college program for adults. The program provides a scholarship program that pays for an individual to attend an in-district community college tuition-free or offers a large tuition discount for an out-of-district community college. To be eligible, a person must be 25 or older, have lived in the state for at least one year, have a high school diploma or GED, and haven’t yet completed a college degree.
Key Points: Since it launched in 2021, the program has welcomed more than 200,000 applicants, with over 66,500 students enrolling in community and Tribal colleges. The impact includes nearly 35,000 applicants ages 21-24 who participated during the program’s temporary eligibility expansion, which concluded in December 2024. More than 14,000 learners have earned degrees or certificates. The program is part of the state’s efforts to achieve its Sixty by 30 goal, which aims to increase the percentage of working-age adults with a postsecondary credential to 60% by 2030.
Importance: “Michigan Reconnect has fundamentally changed what’s possible for adult learners across our state,” said Brandy Johnson, president of the Michigan Community College Association (an MLC client). “Five years of Michigan Reconnect show that when education is affordable and accessible, Michiganders step forward. Community colleges see every day what happens when cost barriers are removed and support is built in, credentials are earned and Michigan gains a stronger, more resilient workforce.”
House Seeks to Continue Medical Compact Participation: By a near-unanimous vote, the Michigan House passed legislation reinstating Michigan in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. The compact is an agreement between participating states, which allows qualified physicians seeking to practice in multiple states to be eligible for expedited licensure. Michigan first joined the compact in 2019, and the legislature extended its participation in 2022. Michigan’s active membership is set to expire on March 28, 2026.
Key Points: House Bill 5455 was introduced by Representative Rylee Linting (R-Grosse Ile). Unlike prior iterations of legislation allowing the state to participate in the compact, this bill does not include language providing for a future repeal. The bill will be sent to the Senate for consideration.
Interstate Medical Licensure Compact: The compact allows a physician to be licensed in multiple states under the existing regulatory authority of state medical boards. While it creates an additional pathway for licensure, it doesn’t change a state’s medical practice act. A physician is under the jurisdiction of the state medical board where the patient is located. Currently, 42 states either belong to or are implementing membership. As of February 2025, approximately 3,600 doctors have obtained privileges in Michigan under the compact.
Electric Choice Program Remains Successful: Michigan electricity providers remain at or near the 10% statutory cap in 2025 in the state’s electric choice program, according to the annual report by the Michigan Public Service Commission. Under PA 286 of 2008, electric choice is limited to 10% of a utility’s average weather-adjusted retail sales for the preceding calendar year.
Key Points: Electric demand in the choice program came in at 2,172 megawatts (MW) last year, down 15 MW from 2,187 MW in 2024. The number of customers participating in the program grew slightly in 2025 to 5,517 from 5,514 in 2024. Nearly all choice participants are commercial or industrial customers, from large manufacturers to retailers, restaurants, health care facilities, and school systems.
Market: Michigan opened its utility service market to competition through the Customer Choice and Electricity Reliability Act of 2000. The law permits up to 10% of retail electric sales to be purchased from an alternative electric supplier (AES). The number of licensed AESs in Michigan stood at 25 as of December 2025. Approximately 5,101 customers are in the queue of those interested in participating in the program, assuming space becomes available under the 10% cap. Michigan is one of 20 jurisdictions that had a form of restructured retail electric market in 2025.
Spotlight On Representative Curt VanderWall: Representative VanderWall (R-Ludington) is serving his 10th year in the Michigan Legislature. He was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in November 2016. After which, he served in the Michigan Senate from 2018 to 2022. In 2022, his district elected him back to the Michigan House, and he won reelection in 2024. Prior to his election to the legislature, he served as a commissioner and chairman for the Mason County Board of Commissioners. Representative VanderWall is a small business owner. Before elected office, he worked much of his adult life with Eberhard Foods and Prevo’s Family Market. He also served on the board of Old Kent Bank, as well as the Mason County Growth Alliance Board, Northern Michigan Counties Association, and the Mason County Housing Board.
District: He represents the 102nd House District, which includes parts of Oceana, Manistee, Mason, and Muskegon counties.
Committees: Representative VanderWall chairs the Health Policy Committee. In addition, he’s a member of the following committees: Finance, Government Operations, and Natural Resources and Tourism.
We asked Representative VanderWall a few questions to learn more about him:
What’s your favorite travel destination outside of Michigan?
A – The Caribbean.
What’s your favorite hobby other than politics?
A – Hunting, snowmobiling, and motorcycle riding.
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
A – A teacher.
What’s your favorite game to play or sport to watch and/or play?
A – Football, I’m a huge Green Bay Packer fan.
Next Week: The Senate is scheduled to hold its typical Tuesday – Wednesday session schedule, while the House has scheduled session for Tuesday and Wednesday. On Wednesday, February 11, State Budget Director Jen Flood will present the Executive Budget Recommendations for the 2027 Fiscal Year to a Joint Session of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.
Congratulations to MLC lobby associate Therese Reinhold on her first anniversary with the firm!