After hours of deliberation Friday, members of the Michigan Board of State Canvassers unanimously approved petition language for an effort to ban political spending by utilities like Consumers Energy and DTE and large state contractors.

Should it make the ballot — and voters approve it — the effort would require lawmakers draft legislation prohibiting regulated electric and gas utilities from “making direct or indirect campaign contributions to those who run for or hold offices that impact them,” according to an initiative summary approved by canvassers Friday.

That ban would also apply to contractors with over $250,000 annually in government contracts and people in organizations with substantial connections to those utilities or contractors.

Sean McBrearty with Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, the group spearheading the petition effort, said the plan is to have petitions in circulation “by Labor Day weekend.”

The hope, he added, is to gather 500,000 signatures — well over the 357,000 signatures needed — in the next 180 days in an attempt to make the November 2026 ballot.

“Whether you’re a Republican, a Democrat or anything else — now is the time for us to come together and say that our democracy is not for sale,” McBrearty, also the Michigan state director of Clean Water Action, told Bridge Michigan.

In addition to banning political contributions for certain actors, the initiative also looks to expand state campaign finance laws and restrictions to more clearly identify who is paying for political communications — such as advertisements — regardless of whether they are advocating for or against a cause.