HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS
REP. PENELOPE TSERNOGLOU
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
10:30 AM
Room 327, House Office Building
The House Committee on Elections was called to order by Chair Tsernoglou.
The Chair requested attendance be called:
Present: Reps. Tsernoglou, Wegela, Hope, Koleszar, Byrnes, Churches, Smit, DeBoyer.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Representative DeBoyer moved to adopt the meeting minutes from September 19, 2023.
There being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid HB 4983, HB 4984, HB 4985 and HB 4986 before the committee:
HB 4983
(Rep. Tsernoglou)
A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled "Michigan
election law," by amending sections 493a, 500a,
501, 509o, 509q, and 509r (MCL 168.493a,
168.500a, 168.501, 168.509o, 168.509q, and
168.509r), section 493a as added by 2018 PA 603,
sections 500a, 501, and 509r as amended by 2018
PA 125, section 509o as amended by 2022 PA 195,
and section 509q as amended by 2020 PA 302, and
by adding section 493b.
HB 4984
(Rep. Skaggs)
A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled "Michigan
vehicle code," by amending section 307 (MCL
257.307), as amended by 2020 PA 376.
HB 4985
(Rep. Dievendorf)
A bill to amend 1972 PA 222, entitled "An act to
provide for an official personal identification card;
to provide for its form, issuance and use; to
regulate the use and disclosure of information
obtained from the card; to prescribe the powers
and duties of the secretary of state; to prescribe
fees; to prescribe certain penalties for violations;
and to provide an appropriation for certain
purposes," by amending section 1 (MCL 28.291),
as amended by 2021 PA 105.
HB 4986
(Rep. Wilson)
A bill to amend 2008 PA 23, entitled "Enhanced
driver license and enhanced official state personal
identification card act," by amending section 5
(MCL 28.305), as amended by 2021 PA 106.
At 10:32 AM, the Chair laid the committee at ease.
At 10:32 AM, Majority Vice Chair Wegela called the committee back to order.
Representative Tsernoglou, and Neal Ubriani, representing the Institute for Responsible
Government, testified in support of HB 4983, HB 4984, HB 4985 and HB 4986. Questions
and discussion followed.
At 10:54 AM, Majority Vice Chair Wegela laid the committee at ease.
At 10:54 AM, the Chair called the committee back to order.
Daniel Baxter, representing the City of Detroit Clerk's Office, testified in support of HB
4983, HB 4984, HB 4985 and HB 4986.
Erin Schor, representing the Michigan Department of State, testified in support of HB 4983,
HB 4984, HB 4985 and HB 4986. Questions and discussion followed.
Canton Township Clerk Michael Siegrist testified in support of HB 4983, HB 4984, HB 4985
and HB 4986.
Melanie Macey and Erica Peresman, representing Promote The Vote, testified in support of
HB 4983, HB 4984, HB 4985 and HB 4986.
Ricky Servantez Bicknell, representing Voters Not Politicians, testified in support of HB
4983, HB 4984, HB 4985 and HB 4986.
Marcus Cheatham, representing Healthy Democracy Healthy People, testified in support of
HB 4983.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 4983, but did not wish to speak:
Ashiya Brown, representing All Voting Is Local Action Michigan.
John Lindback, representing the National Vote at Home Institute.
Matt Patton, representing Protect Democracy.
Lata Nott, representing Voting Rights at Campaign Legal Center.
Brad Williams, representing the Detroit Regional Chamber.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 4983, HB 4984, HB 4985 and HB
4986, but did not wish to speak:
Thomas Luckett, representing the Michigan Democratic Party.
Merissa Kovach, representing the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan.
Nick Occhipinti, representing the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.
Bill Zaagman, representing the Michigan Association of County Clerks and the Michigan
Association of Municipal Clerks.
The following people submitted a card in opposition to HB 4983, HB 4984, HB 4985 and HB
4986, but did not wish to speak:
Sheri Ritchie and Darlene Hennessy, representing Pure Integrity Michigan Elections,
Michigan Fair Elections, StandUp Michigan, and the Freedom Alliance.
The Chair laid SB 385 before the committee:
SB 385
(Sen. Geiss)
A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled "Michigan
election law," by amending section 677 (MCL
168.677), as amended by 2018 PA 120.
The following person submitted a card in support of SB 385, but did not wish to speak:
Dave Hodgkins, representing the Michigan Municipal League.
The following people submitted a card in opposition to SB 385, but did not wish to speak:
Sheri Ritchie and Darlene Hennessy, representing Pure Integrity Michigan Elections,
Michigan Fair Elections, StandUp Michigan, and the Freedom Alliance.
Representative Koleszar moved to report out SB 385 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 6-0-2:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Tsernoglou, Wegela, Hope, Koleszar, Byrnes, Churches.
Nays: None.
Pass: Reps. Smit, DeBoyer.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair Tsernoglou adjourned the
meeting at 11:18 AM.
Representative Penelope Tsernoglou, Chair
Edward Sleeper
Committee Clerk
esleeper@house.mi.gov