Michigan Legislature

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Initiatives

What is an Initiative?

An initiative is a proposal to amend state statutes that is put forth by the citizens of the state through a petition effort. The initiative process is detailed in Article 2, Section 9, of the Constitution of 1963, which provides, in part:

Any law proposed by initiative petition shall be either enacted or rejected by the legislature without change or amendment within 40 session days from the time such petition is received by the legislature.

If any law proposed by such petition shall be enacted by the legislature it shall be subject to referendum, as hereinafter provided. If the law so proposed is not enacted by the legislature within the 40 days, the state officer authorized by law shall submit such proposed law to the people for approval or rejection at the next general election. The legislature may reject any measure so proposed by initiative petition and propose a different measure upon the same subject by a yea and nay vote upon separate roll calls, and in such event both measures shall be submitted by such state officer to the electors for approval or rejection at the next general election.

What is an Alternative Measure? (Not available for all Initiatives)

An Alternative Measure is a bill that is offered by the legislature as an alternative to an Initiative Petition.
An initiative of legislation to ...

2014 ... enact the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.

2013 ... to enact the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act.

2008 ... allow under State Law the medical use of marihuana.

2006 ... amend 1979 PA 94

2006 ... repeal 1975 PA 228