HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS
REP. PENELOPE TSERNOGLOU
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, September 19, 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 Smit moved to adopt the meeting minutes from September 12, 2023. There
being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
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.
Chris Swope, representing the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks, testified in support
of SB 385. Questions and discussion followed.
The following people submitted a card in support of SB 385, but did not wish to speak:
Melanie Macey, representing Promote the Vote.
Ricky Servantez Bicknell, representing Voters Not Politicians.
Erin Schor, representing the Michigan Department of State.
Bill Zaagman, representing the Michigan Association of County Clerks.
Thomas Luckett, representing the Michigan Democratic Party.
The Chair laid HB 4129 and HB 4130 before the committee:
HB 4129
(Rep. Hope)
A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled "Michigan
election law," (MCL 168.1 to 168.992) by adding
section 931b.
HB 4130
(Rep. Hope)
A bill to amend 1927 PA 175, entitled "The code
of criminal procedure," by amending section 11d
of chapter XVII (MCL 777.11d), as amended by
2018 PA 661.
The following person submitted a card in support of HB 4129 and HB 4130, but did not wish
to speak:
Ricky Servantez Bicknell, representing Voters Not Politicians.
Representative Smit offered the following amendments to HB 4129:
1. Amend page 3, following line 3, by inserting:
"(viii) Engaging in any lawful ballot challenger activities.".
2. Amend page 3, line 7, after "board," by inserting "ballot challenger,".
Representative Smit moved to adopt the amendments to HB 4129. The motion did not prevail
2-6-0:
UNFAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Smit, DeBoyer.
Nays: Reps. Tsernoglou, Wegela, Hope, Koleszar, Byrnes, Churches.
Pass: None.
Representative Wegela moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HB 4129. The motion prevailed 6-
2-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Tsernoglou, Wegela, Hope, Koleszar, Byrnes, Churches.
Nays: Reps. Smit, DeBoyer.
Pass: None.
Representative Hope moved to report out HB 4129 with recommendation, as substitute (H-1).
The motion prevailed 6-2-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Tsernoglou, Wegela, Hope, Koleszar, Byrnes, Churches.
Nays: Reps. Smit, DeBoyer.
Pass: None.
Representative Koleszar moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HB 4130. The motion prevailed
6-2-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Tsernoglou, Wegela, Hope, Koleszar, Byrnes, Churches.
Nays: Reps. Smit, DeBoyer.
Pass: None.
Representative Byrnes moved to report out HB 4130 with recommendation, as substitute (H-
1). The motion prevailed 6-2-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Tsernoglou, Wegela, Hope, Koleszar, Byrnes, Churches.
Nays: Reps. Smit, DeBoyer.
Pass: None.
The Chair laid HB 4534 before the committee:
HB 4534
(Rep. Stone)
A bill to amend 1953 PA 232, entitled
"Corrections code of 1953," by amending sections
34c and 35 (MCL 791.234c and 791.235), section
34c as added by 2012 PA 24 and section 35 as
amended by 2019 PA 13.
The following person submitted a card with a neutral position on HB 4534, but did not wish
to speak:
Kyle Kaminski, representing the Michigan Department of Corrections.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 4534, but did not wish to speak:
Melanie Macey, representing Promote the Vote.
Rusty Merchant, representing Secure Democracy.
Ricky Servantez Bicknell, representing Voters Not Politicians.
Thomas Luckett, representing the Michigan Democratic Party.
Representative Churches moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HB 4534. The motion prevailed
6-0-2:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Tsernoglou, Wegela, Hope, Koleszar, Byrnes, Churches.
Nays: None.
Pass: Reps. Smit, DeBoyer.
Representative Wegela moved to report out HB 4534 with recommendation, as substitute (H-
1). The motion prevailed 6-0-2:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Tsernoglou, Wegela, Hope, Koleszar, Byrnes, Churches.
Nays: None.
Pass: Reps. Smit, DeBoyer.
The Chair laid SB 374 before the committee:
SB 374
(Sen. Moss)
A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled "Michigan
election law," by amending sections 658 and 661
(MCL 168.658 and 168.661), as amended by 2012
PA 270.
The following people submitted a card in support of SB 374, but did not wish to speak:
Judy Allen, representing the Michigan Townships Association.
Bill Zaagman, representing the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks.
Erin Schor, representing the Michigan Department of State.
Representative Hope moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to SB 374. The motion prevailed 6-0-2:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Tsernoglou, Wegela, Hope, Koleszar, Byrnes, Churches.
Nays: None.
Pass: Reps. Smit, DeBoyer.
Representative Byrnes moved to report out SB 374 with recommendation, as substitute (H-1).
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 10:44 AM.
Representative Penelope Tsernoglou, Chair
Edward Sleeper
Committee Clerk
esleeper@house.mi.gov