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Legislative Integrity and Ethics Enhancement Act

This bill amends existing ethics legislation to prohibit state senators and representatives from receiving additional compensation for directly communicating with officials in the executive or legislative branches (at both state and other government levels) for the purpose of influencing legislative or administrative actions. Essentially, this means that Michigan state legislators cannot be paid by outside entities to lobby other government officials beyond their standard legislative salary. The bill establishes this prohibition as a new legal requirement, with violations classified as a misdemeanor that could result in up to 90 days of imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. The provisions of this bill are set to take effect on January 1, 2026, giving lawmakers and stakeholders time to prepare for and understand the new restrictions. The goal appears to be preventing potential conflicts of interest and maintaining the integrity of legislative communication by ensuring that state representatives are not financially incentivized to influence government actions through external compensation.1