LANSING, MI -- Michigan Sen. Dave Robertson, citing federal court rulings that paved the way for more political spending by corporations and labor unions, is looking to write super PACs into state law.

"The highest court in our land, in the Citizens United case, determined the right to free political speech for all parties -- corporate, labor or any other group participating in the democratic process," said Robertson, R-Grand Blanc Township.

Senate Bill 638, introduced last week and advanced out of the Senate Elections and Government Reform Committee on Tuesday in 4-1 vote, would create independent-expenditure only committees in the Michigan Campaign Finance Act.

The state-level super PACs would be prohibited from donating directly to candidates but could make unlimited contributions to ballot committees and spend unlimited amounts on activities that may benefit a candidate.

Unlike candidate committees, the state-level super PACS could accept contributions from corporations, other types of businesses and labor unions. Like other committees, they would be required to disclose donors to the state.

Sen. Morris Hood of Detroit, the lone Democrat on the GOP-led committee, was also the lone "no" vote.

"We've got so many loopholes in our campaign finance law, and I think this just exacerbates it and makes it that much more easy," Hood said after Tuesday's hearing. "This just creates another avenue for money to be involved in campaigns."

Supporters say the legislation would essentially codify court rulings, including the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which held that the First Amendment prohibits restrictions on independent spending by outside groups.

"What SB 638 does is a lawyer's dream, in the sense I don't have to explain to people what Michigan law says versus what the law of the country says," elections attorney John Pirich said in committee. "It will establish with finality that the creation of independent expenditure committees is authorized."

Federal super PAC rules already apply to Michigan, according to a 2010 U.S. District Court ruling in a case brought by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.

But the legislation appears to go beyond court rulings in some regards. For instance, the bill would exempt super PAC advertisements from disclaimer rules adopted just two years ago.

The proposal also seeks to define appropriate coordination between candidates and super PACs that support them.

It would allow candidates to solicit contributions to super PACS, which is consistent with an interpretive ruling issued by Secretary of State Ruth Johnson's office in 2013.

The legislation would also allow political parties to solicit contributions to super PACs, and it would allow super PACs and candidates to share attorneys or vendors, provided they do not "convey material information" about campaign plans, activities or needs.

SB 638, now heading to the full Senate, is one of several elections-related bills that the Republican-led Legislature is considering as 2015 comes to a close and 2016 elections near.

A Senate-approved bill to ban straight-ticket voting is current before a House committee, which last week approved a bill that would allow in-person no-reason absentee voting.

Jonathan Oosting is a Capitol reporter for MLive Media Group. Email him, find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.