LANSING, Mich. (AP) A ballot drive has turned in more than 483,000 signatures for an initiative to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ people in Michigan by amending the states civil rights law.

If election officials determine roughly 340,000 are valid, the bill would be placed before the Republican-led Legislature, where similar legislation has long stalled. If lawmakers did not adopt the measure within 40 days, it would go to a statewide vote in November 2022.

Michigan stands united to bring LGBTQ rights into law for the first time, said Trevor Thomas, co-chair of Fair and Equal Michigan. He called the groups submission of petitions Tuesday a milestone as we continue the work of making sure everyone has an equal chance to succeed.

Fair and Equal Michigan had raised nearly $1.6 million as of July. Businesses, labor unions and groups that have financially supported the initiative or endorsed it include the Detroit Three automakers, Business Leaders for Michigan, Dow, the states two major utilities and the AFL-CIO.