LANSING, Mich. (Dec. 10, 2025) — State Sens. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) and Ed McBroom (R-Waucedah Twp.) have introduced legislation to ensure the Michigan Legislature can exercise its vital oversight responsibilities fairly. The proposed oversight committee would be made up of an equal number of representatives and senators from both parties. The committee would be authorized to subpoena witnesses and to review reports from the auditor general.
“Oversight is a cornerstone of our democracy, because the people of Michigan need to know that government is working for them,” said Sen. Irwin. “But our current process of legislative oversight is controlled by the majority party in each chamber, leading to inconsistency and perceptions of bias. The work of holding government accountable is too important to leave in partisan hands.”
“When I chaired the Senate Oversight Committee, I saw how lack of consistency and changes in partisan control undermine the Legislature’s ability to protect people when government fails them,” said Sen. McBroom. “Our proposal would enable voters to adopt methods that have proven effective in other states and put them to work for the people of Michigan.”
The legislative package comprises a joint resolution and a bill. Sen. Irwin’s Senate Joint Resolution G would put a proposal on the ballot to enable Michigan voters to amend the state constitution, creating a bicameral, bipartisan standing oversight committee in the Legislature. The committee would comprise equal numbers of senators and representatives from both parties, have full powers to subpoena and swear in witnesses, and take reports directly from the auditor general. To insulate against potential interference by majority legislative leadership, independent staff support would be provided through the Legislative Council. Sen. McBroom’s Senate Bill 734 would codify the details of implementing the constitutional amendment, prescribing procedures for appointing members, filling vacancies, and removing members.
Specifically, the bicameral, bipartisan joint oversight committee would consist of eight members within the Legislature: two appointed by the Speaker of the House, two appointed by the House Minority Leader, two appointed by the Senate Majority Leader, and two appointed by the Senate Minority Leader. To ensure impartiality, no more than four of the eight seats may be held by members of the same party. The committee members would select two or four co-chairpersons, not more than half of whom may represent the same party or legislative chamber. Members could be removed by the person who appointed them or by majority vote in their own chamber.
Sens. McBroom and Irwin served together on the Michigan Senate Oversight Committee from 2019 to 2022. Sen. McBroom chaired the committee, and Sen. Irwin was the minority vice chair. Under their leadership, the committee held public hearings on important issues, including election integrity and the performance of the Michigan unemployment insurance system during the height of the COVID pandemic.