HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
REP. SARAH LIGHTNER
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
10:30 AM
Room 521, House Office
Building
The House Committee on Judiciary was called to order by Chair Lightner.
The Chair requested attendance to be called:
Present: Reps. Lightner, BeGole, Wozniak, Harris, DeBoyer, Johnsen, Schuette, Tyrone
Carter, Hope, Breen and Scott.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Representative Schuette moved to adopt the meeting minutes from March 04, 2026. There being
no objection, the motion prevailed with unanimous consent.
The Chair laid HB 5281 before the committee:
HB 5281
(Rep. Harris)
A bill to regulate third-party litigation funding
transactions; to require disclosures in those
transactions; to establish the responsibilities of
litigation funding companies and of attorneys;
to require registration of litigation funding
companies; to impose fees; to provide for the
powers and duties of state governmental
officers and entities; to prescribe civil fines
and to provide remedies; and to require and
allow the promulgation of rules.
Representative Harris testified in support of HB 5281. Questions and discussions followed.
Judge Michael Warren, representing himself, testified in support of HB 5281.
Zach Rudat, representing the Michigan Alliance for Legal Reform, testified in support of HB
5281. Questions and discussions followed.
Phil Goldberg, representing the American Tort Reform Association, testified in support of HB
5281.
Mark Benrens, representing the US Chamber, Institute for Legal Reform, testified in support of
HB 5281.
Adam Eathington, representing the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), testified in support
of HB 5281.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 5281, but did not wish to speak:
Elizabeth Kutter, representing the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.
Ken Morin, representing the Life Insurance Association of Michigan.
DaeSean Ashby, representing the Michigan Credit Union League.
Jacob Manning, representing the Small Business Association of Michigan.
Adam Majestic, representing the Detroit Regional Chamber.
Shawon Cecil, representing the MI Realtors.
Christine Simon, representing the GR Chamber.
Shanda Greco, representing the Insurance Alliance of Michigan.
Ron Kendall, representing ABC of Michigan.
Randy Gross, representing the MI Chamber.
Drew Beardslee, representing the Michigan Retailers Association.
Mark Griffin, representing the Michigan Petroleum Association.
Patricia Herndon, representing the MI Bankers.
Ryan Tarrant, representing the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.
Jazmin Kay, representing UBER.
Remi Stone, representing The Doctors Company.
Tim Langholz, representing the NFIB.
Jack Trebtoske, representing the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association.
Karen Johnston, representing Toyota.
Rob Anderson, representing the Michigan Farm Bureau.
Craig Puckett, representing the Big I Michigan.
Jase Bolger, representing the West Michigan Policy Forum.
The following people submitted a card in opposition to HB 5281, but did not wish to speak:
Mitch Albers, representing the Michigan Association for Justice.
Rob Elhenicky, representing the ARC Legal Funding.
The Chair laid HB 5465 before the committee:
HB 5465
(Rep. Bruck)
A bill to amend 1931 PA 328, entitled "The
Michigan penal code," by amending section
552c (MCL 750.552c), as added by 2005 PA
305.
Representative Lightner moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HB 5465. The motion prevailed
11-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Lightner, BeGole, Wozniak, Harris, DeBoyer, Johnsen, Schuette, Tyrone Carter,
Hope, Breen and Scott.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
Representative Bruck, testified in support of HB 5465.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 5465, but did not wish to speak:
Jon Cool, representing the Michigan Railroads Association.
Joe Fedewa, representing DTE Energy.
Adam Majestic, representing the Detroit Regional Chamber.
Representative BeGole moved to report out HB 5465 with recommendation, as substitute (H-1).
The motion prevailed 11-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Lightner, BeGole, Wozniak, Harris, DeBoyer, Johnsen, Schuette, Tyrone Carter,
Hope, Breen and Scott.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
The Chair laid HB 5515 before the committee:
HB 5515
(Rep. Hoadley)
A bill to amend 1931 PA 328, entitled "The
Michigan penal code," by amending section
227 (MCL 750.227), as amended by 1986 PA
8.
Representative Lightner moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HB 5515. The motion prevailed 9-0-2:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Lightner, BeGole, Wozniak, Harris, DeBoyer, Johnsen, Schuette, Tyrone Carter
and Scott.
Nays: None.
Pass: Reps. Hope and Breen.
Representative Hoadley testified in support of HB 5515. Questions and discussions followed.
Cyndi Twichell, representing herself, testified in opposition to HB 5515.
The following person submitted a card in opposition to HB 5515, but did not wish to speak:
Matt Saxton, Executive Director, representing the Michigan Sheriffs' Association.
The Chair laid HB 5388 before the committee:
HB 5388
(Rep. Slagh)
A bill to amend 1931 PA 328, entitled "The
Michigan penal code," by amending section
224d (MCL 750.224d), as amended by 2018
PA 98.
Representative Slagh, testified in support of HB 5388. Questions and discussions followed.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair Lightner adjourned the meeting at
11:41 AM.
Representative Sarah Lightner, Chair
Melissa Sweet
Committee Clerk
msweet@house.mi.gov