In Michigan, a dispute between the state Senate and House led to a court ruling on the handling of nine bills that had not been sent to Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Court of Claims Judge Sima Patel ruled on Thursday that the House did not send the bills as required, but the court did not mandate their submission, as per CBS News Detroit.
A lawsuit filed by Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks challenged the House and Speaker Matt Hall over the timing of bill delivery to the governor. The issue arose after bills were passed before a shift in House control. Judge Patel ruled that the Senate’s position was correct but did not intervene in legislative procedures. "Simply put, all bills passed by the Legislature must be presented to the Governor within time to allow 14 days for the Governor’s review prior to the first date that they could take effect — even those passed during a 'lame duck' session in an even year," Patel wrote, according to Detroit Free Press.
Michigan legislative leaders offered differing views on a recent court ruling. Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks said it reinforced the importance of following legislative rules, stating, "I hope that this serves as a signal to any legislator who attempts to skirt the rules: we will hold you accountable to doing right by the people of Michigan. Let’s now put this to bed and move forward with the work of the people – they’re counting on us," as reported by The Detroit News. House Minority Leader Matt Hall, however, said the judge’s decision not to enforce bill presentation supported his view that political disagreements should not lead to legal battles. The disputed bills cover topics such as historical museum authority, Michigan State Police and State Employees' Retirement Act amendments, and wage and property garnishment protections. While the Court of Claims judge noted that House Clerk Scott Starr would typically present the bills, the next steps remain unclear in Michigan’s divided legislature.
