Senate Majority Leader Prepares Legal Action Against Republican House Reps for Violating Constitution, Blocking Passed Legislation

LANSING, Mich. (Jan. 22, 2025) — Today, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) introduced Senate Resolution 3 to prepare legal action that compels the House of Representatives to fulfill its constitutional duty to present the nine remaining bills passed by both chambers during the 102nd Legislature to the governor.

“At the bare minimum, Michigan residents deserve elected officials that are committed to fulfilling their constitutional duties — but Republican leadership in the House of Representatives has decided to start off the new legislative session with a blatant violation of our state constitution by blocking nine bills passed by both chambers from moving forward,” said Leader Brinks. “Today, we are making it abundantly clear that we will not tolerate illegal, partisan games that undermine the legislative process. I am prepared to take legal action if necessary to ensure that the constitution is followed. Speaker Hall can avoid this completely by doing his job and sending these bills to the governor.”

On Dec. 20, 2024, the Senate passed House Bills 4177 and 4665-4667 of 2023 and House Bills 4900-4901, 5817-5818, and 6058 of 2024 and returned them to the House for presentation to the governor. While Michigan’s Constitution requires that every bill passed by the Legislature be presented to the governor, Speaker Matt Hall has advised that the House will continue holding these nine bills. On behalf of the Michigan Senate, Leader Brinks has authorized legal action to ensure the House fulfills its constitutional obligation to immediately present these bills to the governor.