Current through Public Act 151 of the 2024 Legislative Session
Section 125.139 - Adoption of ordinance by municipality; notice of intent to file petition; petition subject to certain laws; referendum(1) Subject to subsection (3), if a municipality adopts an ordinance under section 5, within 7 days after the municipality publishes the ordinance or a synopsis of the ordinance, whichever is required by law, a registered elector of the municipality may file with the clerk of the municipality a notice of intent to file a petition under this section. If a notice of intent is filed, then within 30 days following the publication of the ordinance or synopsis, a petition signed by a number of registered electors of the municipality equal to not less than 15% of the total votes cast for all candidates for governor, at the last preceding general election at which a governor was elected, in the municipality may be filed with the clerk of the municipality requesting the submission of the ordinance to the registered electors of the municipality for their approval. Upon the filing of a notice of intent, the ordinance adopted by the legislative body of the municipality shall not take effect until 1 of the following occurs: (a) The expiration of 30 days after publication of the ordinance or synopsis, if a petition is not filed within that time.(b) If a petition is filed within 30 days after publication of the ordinance, the clerk of the municipality determines that the petition is inadequate.(c) If a petition is filed within 30 days after publication of the ordinance, the clerk of the municipality determines that the petition is adequate and the ordinance is approved by a majority of the registered electors of the municipality voting for the ordinance at the next regular election which supplies reasonable time for proper notices and printing of ballots, or at any special election called for that purpose. The legislative body of the municipality shall provide the manner of submitting the ordinance to the registered electors of the municipality for their approval or rejection, and determining the result of the election.(2) A petition under subsection (1), including the circulation and signing of the petition, is subject to section 488 of the Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.488. A person who violates a provision of the Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.1 to 168.992, applicable to a petition under subsection (1) is subject to the penalties prescribed for that violation in the Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.1 to 168.992.(3) If a municipality has a charter and the charter provides for a right of referendum on municipal ordinances, then, in that municipality, the charter referendum provisions, instead of subsections (1) and (2), apply to an ordinance adopted under section 5.Added by 2003, Act 226, s 5, eff. 12/18/2003.