(Source: MIRS.news, Published 03/10/2025) The Detroit Regional Chamber is not allowed under the Lobby Act to give lawmakers free admission to their annual Mackinac Policy Conference, which other attendees pay $3,200 apiece to attend, the Secretary of State's office ruled on Monday. 

The preliminary ruling is in response to a request from Sandy K. Baruah, president and chief executive officer of the Detroit Regional Chamber, who wanted to know whether the Chamber – as a lobbyist agent – could provide complimentary admission to public officials or if that violated the Michigan Lobby Registration Act. 

"We've been working in good faith with the Secretary of State's office, and we will continue to work with them to find a solution to this," Chamber Vice President of Political Affairs Brad Williams said. 

On Tuesday, Baruah told MIRS: "While the Michigan Secretary of State’s office has ruled against a 40 plus year Michigan tradition of the Mackinac Policy Conference simply providing registration to elected officials to ensure their accessibility at Michigan’s premier convening of civic, business, and philanthropic leaders, the Detroit Regional Chamber respects the decision. The Chamber will, of course, follow the law and is grateful that established processes allow additional public comment on this matter. The Chamber looks forward to the possibility that additional public comment will impact the Secretary of State’s decision on this matter.” 

The Michigan Department of State (MDOS) is inviting public comments on its preliminary response before 5 p.m. March 17 via email BOERegulatory@Michigan.gov. 

According to the letter, conference registration for Chamber members is $3,200, but the value is about $6,004 per official "based on the number of covered officials in attendance and the total charges to sponsors and registrants" to support the conference. 

The Chamber claims that public officials attending that conference participate in "official" events, and that complimentary admission is considered part of their official public duties. 

The state disagrees – unless SB 101 is signed into law. 

Currently, the Lobby Act defines a gift as a "payment, advance, forbearance, or the rendering or deposition of money, services or anything of value, the value of which exceeds $25." 

There are exceptions, such as a campaign contribution otherwise reported as required by the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. 

SB 101, which was reported favorably by the Senate Committee on Oversight in February, allows complimentary admission to charity events, conferences or education events. 

The MDOS letter says that the department doesn't oppose SB 101 , but for the time being it is not law, and it implies that current statute "does not exempt complimentary admission to a … conference."