Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Introduced 1 R cosponsors

HB 4588 — Elections: school; school district board member candidates; require to have a partisan affiliation. Amends secs. 303, 697 & 699 of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.303 et seq.).

Last action — referred to second reading

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  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced October 28, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Prognosis

Not enough signal yet

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

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Summary

Elections: school; school district board member candidates; require to have a partisan affiliation. Amends secs. 303, 697 & 699 of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.303 et seq.).

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

155 added · 126 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amended version of HB 4588 clarifies the requirements for candidates running for school board positions in different types of school districts. Specifically, it distinguishes between candidates in local school districts and those in other types of school districts regarding the nature of their nominating petitions; local candidates must use a partisan petition, while non-local candidates must use a nonpartisan petition. This change is significant as it ensures candidates in each category follow the appropriate guidelines, potentially streamlining the election process and making it clearer for voters.

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HOUSE BILL NO.
SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO.
4588 June 10, 2025, Introduced by Reps.
4588 A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled "Michigan election law," by amending sections 303, 534, 697, and 699 (MCL 168.303, 168.534, 168.697, and 168.699), section 303 as amended by 2018 PA 650, section 534 as amended by 2018 PA 224, section 697 as amended by PA 226, and section 699 as amended by 2012 PA 523.
Woolford, Maddock and Schriver and referred to Committee on Election Integrity.
A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled "Michigan election law," by amending sections 303, 697, and 699 (MCL 168.303, 168.697, and 168.699), section 303 as amended by 2018 PA 650, section 697 as amended by 2018 PA 226, and section 699 as amended by 2012 PA 523.
(1) Subject to subsection (8), for an individual's name to appear on the official ballot as a candidate for school board member, the candidate shall file a nominating petition and the affidavit required by under section 558 with the school STM H02152'25_HB4588_INTR_1 mb58pd district filing official not later than 4 p.m.
(1) Subject to subsection (8), for an individual's name to appear on the official ballot as a candidate for school board member of a school district other than a local school district, the candidate shall file a nominating petition and the affidavit required by under section 558 with the school district filing official not later than 4 p.m.
on the fifteenth Tuesday before the election date.
on the fifteenth Tuesday STM H02152'25 (H-1) 3bm7kr before the election date.
Subject to subsection (8), for an individual's name to appear under a particular political party heading on the official primary ballot as a candidate for school board member of a local school district, the candidate shall file a nominating petition and the affidavit required under section 558 with the school district filing official not later than 4 p.m.
on the fifteenth Tuesday before the August primary.
A nominating petition under this subsection must include the following opening paragraph:
A nominating petition under this subsection must include the following opening paragraph, and, for a candidate for school board member of a local school district, must also include the phrase "and candidate of the ___________ party" following "a registered and qualified elector of the district" in the following opening paragraph:
We, the undersigned, registered and qualified voterselectors of _______________________________________________________ (legal name of school district) and residents of the _______________________________, the (legal name of school district)(city or township) county of _____________________________, state of Michigan, (city or township) nominate __________________________________________________ (name of candidate) _______________________________ ________________________, (street address) (city or township) STM H02152'25_HB4588_INTR_1 mb58pd a registered and qualified elector of the district as a member of the board of education of the school district for a term of ______ years, expiring ______, to be voted for at the election to be held on the ______ day of ___________, ______.
We, the undersigned, registered and qualified voterselectors STM H02152'25 (H-1) 3bm7kr of _______________________________________________________ (legal name of school district) and residents of the _______________________________, the (legal name of school district)(city or township) county of _____________________________, state of Michigan, (city or township) nominate __________________________________________________ (name of candidate) _______________________________ ________________________, (street address) (city or township) a registered and qualified elector of the district as a member of the board of education of the school district for a term of ______ years, expiring ______, to be voted for at the election to be held on the ______ day of ___________, ______.
(5) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (6), an individual who violates subsection (4) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00, or imprisonment for not more than 93 days, or both.
(5) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (6), an STM H02152'25 (H-1) 3bm7kr individual who violates subsection (4) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00, or imprisonment for not more than 93 days, or both.
(8) Instead of filing nominating petitions, a candidate for STM H02152'25_HB4588_INTR_1 mb58pd school board member may pay a nonrefundable filing fee of $100.00 to the school district filing official.
(8) Instead of filing nominating petitions, a candidate for school board member may pay a nonrefundable filing fee of $100.00 to the school district filing official.
If the school district filing official is not a county clerk, the school district filing official shall notify the county clerk of the candidates' names and addresses not later than 3 days after the last day for filing a withdrawal notice.
If the school district filing official is not a county clerk, the school district filing official shall notify the county clerk of the candidates' names and addresses not later than 3 days after the last day for filing a STM H02152'25 (H-1) 3bm7kr withdrawal notice.
534.
A general primary of all political parties except as provided in sections 532 and 685 must be held in every election precinct in this state on the Tuesday after the first Monday in August before every general November election, at which time the qualified and registered voters of each political party may vote for party candidates for the office of governor, United States Senator, Representative in Congress, state senator, representative in the legislature, county executive, prosecuting attorney, sheriff, county clerk, county treasurer, register of deeds, drain commissioner, public works commissioner, county road commissioner, county mine inspector, surveyor, and candidates for office in townships, and candidates for school board member of a local school district.
A nomination for an office must be made only if the official is to be elected at the next succeeding general November election.
Sec.
United States STM H02152'25_HB4588_INTR_1 mb58pd Senator;
United States Senator;
prosecuting attorney;
STM H02152'25 (H-1) 3bm7kr prosecuting attorney;
Final Page STM H02152'25_HB4588_INTR_1 mb58pd
Final Page STM H02152'25 (H-1) 3bm7kr
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Action History

  1. referred to second reading

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 146 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (146)

146 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

elections education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 4588 do?
Elections: school; school district board member candidates; require to have a partisan affiliation. Amends secs. 303, 697 & 699 of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.303 et seq.).
Who sponsors HB 4588?
HB 4588 is sponsored by Jason Woolford (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 4588?
This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced October 28, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 4588?
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