[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6270163,"mediaKeyId","3039035-dfc97a725f264fd65d76cce5dcb4a9c7","parentId",3039035,"title","Attorney General Dana Nessel outlines office activities, budgetary impact and legislative priorities to Judiciary Committee","audioSeconds",1617,"startMs",1307000,"endMs",2924000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3039035-dfc97a725f264fd65d76cce5dcb4a9c7&start=1307&end=2924","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3039035-dfc97a725f264fd65d76cce5dcb4a9c7/thumbnail_1307000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6270163/Michigan/Attorney-General-Dana-Nessel-outlines-office-activities-budgetary-impact-and-legislative-priorities-to-Judiciary-Committee","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270163-af310034a317dfd5c80850956599a402/orig.mp4?Expires=1770970424&Signature=TA3ItjqxhzMxGigI4s~HpHOb92xHPr2MTOF~qWg2dAC-bQNll7~MBKzvBhbCnw~zLKYLEcJyX2wJBPIlGjaAX5xVpqhDNZcXY~u8HUEoVO8scFZfIuZLP0HrvmwsFPNRitbIytKVY8hFPK82PGA521s6b3zy0UMc0oFi9h6AgQTcIUdRGwDQPCy~QelY6m5RsFmtWEgzSXwvLZNl6GdZtBgvz3uEdiBELYJQeg2V5WjCV72gSHp-fsxmtxm11u9AMsxbKXnHW5s3y3ewYJQVuy~hBDwWN7v-HApQYT~IcFnhxrCsmyqp4oFBerK4QnniD7auzZSNdqeQZb681H45SQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Michigan House of Representatives","date","2025-04-16T00:00:00Z","article","Attorney General Dana Nessel told the House Judiciary Committee that the Michigan Department of Attorney General handles tens of thousands of matters annually, returns significant recoveries to the state and has a portfolio of programs addressing opioids, elder abuse, organized retail crime, human trafficking and juvenile diversion.

Nessel said the department handles about 48,000 cases per year (not including active investigations, expungement applications or trainings) and that the office operates on roughly one‑third of 1 percent of the state general fund. She said the department’s work returned hundreds of millions of dollars to Michigan in 2024 and that settlements and judgments generate revenue distinct from taxes and fees.

The Attorney General provided program details and recent results:
- Opioid litigation: Nessel said the state has negotiated more than $1.63 billion in settlement awards to date (transcript figure given as approximately \"1,634,000,000\"); $282 million has been paid into the Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund and local governments have received more than $176 million, according to her remarks.
- Child support enforcement: the department reported recovering about $26 million last year and assisting nearly 31,000 custodial parents; Nessel said the unit’s operating cost was about $5 million.
- Utility rate cases: Nessel said the office’s special litigation work has produced substantial savings for ratepayers; the department recorded $439 million in savings in 2024 and indicated total savings during her tenure have reached approximately $4 billion.
- Consumer protection and corporate oversight: the department registers charities (about 12,000 annually), fields more than 10,000 consumer complaints per year and pursues fraud and deceptive trade practices under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act.
- Criminal justice units: Nessel described the SAKI (sexual assault kit initiative), Operation Survivor Justice (extraditions and prosecutions of defendants located outside Michigan), the Organized Retail Crime Unit (charged over 85 defendants in 42 cases, recovered over $10 million in merchandise and additional cash/cryptocurrency), and the Sentinel Project (unannounced nursing‑home visits; Nessel said there were 36 visits in 2024).
- Address Confidentiality Program: Nessel said 315 applicants are currently enrolled.
- Parole appeals: the department has a unit that files appeals on behalf of victims and county prosecutors in limited circumstances; Nessel noted the statutory time window for appealing parole board decisions can be short and suggested legislators consider extending it.
- Job Court (diversion): Nessel said pilot programs in Genesee, Marquette (expanded into three counties in the Upper Peninsula) and Wayne County showed early results, including graduates and a low recidivism rate among participants.

Nessel described ongoing legislative priorities she plans to pursue with the committee, including bills related to human trafficking, guardianship and conservatorship reform, and consumer protection changes tied to pending court commentary on the Michigan Consumer Protection Act (she cited the Globe Life decision and ongoing matters such as an Eli Lilly case that the Michigan Supreme Court requested supplemental briefing on).

Committee members asked for clarification on several items during the question period: the parole‑appeals timeline (the AG’s office described a roughly 21‑day window for filing), the operation and recent graduates from Job Court, elder‑abuse reporting pathways and a new online portal the AG’s office launched to collect Social Security Administration complaints. On the Social Security portal, Nessel said the office launched the webpage the prior Friday and reported receiving complaints that included: 26 case submissions to the portal, 30 people reporting they did not receive a check, 15 reporting late checks, 28 reporting incorrect amounts, and 53 calls in which constituents could not reach the SSA by telephone.

Nessel urged committee members to avoid deep budget cuts to the department, saying private counsel cost multiples of public‑sector rates and that investments in the department save the state money through recoveries and litigation avoided or resolved.

The committee thanked the Attorney General and her team for the presentation and proceeded to the question period recorded in the committee minutes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Michigan Judiciary Committee Wednesday, April 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Attorney General Dana Nessel described the Department of Attorney General’s caseload, revenue recoveries, programs and legislative priorities to the House Judiciary Committee and urged against deep budget cuts.","taxTitle","Judiciary, House of Representative, Committees\t\t\t\t\t, Legislative, Michigan","taxId",27589,"location","Michigan","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6270166,"Judiciary Committee reports multiple bills to House floor; fentanyl measures advance",4708,248000,4956000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3039035-dfc97a725f264fd65d76cce5dcb4a9c7&start=248&end=4956","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3039035-dfc97a725f264fd65d76cce5dcb4a9c7/thumbnail_248000.jpg","/articles/6270166/Michigan/Judiciary-Committee-reports-multiple-bills-to-House-floor-fentanyl-measures-advance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270166-31257f0f7f2044e018e088bdb2314be9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770970424&Signature=UIVcQLA5iGq9Q281ie89UxZuaLnHOXPF5UXO9wxfs9ekve9yNw9NSkfCsaisEoTITRGrzJ7AqToQI5orUO~YZC5ho707k9msI7M9A~TLCb~WMRycD40~m5gDup4p8Na86w0BFKqISfJixfkMM6Zwz7eYHGcvQDhA2DV25UuJYAnxuHnpe4ajoxji4dfQ3D3-Wr9l3xVVHzbtPlavFXjHSzEMpStQrbZPf4v-QH8hk7ExiBFDEvHDCoy792iVEe-Z3xyVg5CU8diIIOjGkh6vGMwT8I768GhKFePUcKqRsMqpFGA-K1Ns2h3iV1LMUVCMTKlOP2huD9KygIjeXhcsAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Judiciary Committee recorded a series of procedural motions and reported multiple bills to the full House during a session that concluded with the Attorney General’s presentation.

Committee business included approving the previous meeting’s minutes, excusing absent members, and reporting a slate of bills to the House floor. Among the bills advanced were two fentanyl‑related measures (House Bills 4,255 and 4,256), which the committee reported with recommendations after roll‑call votes.

Key committee actions (votes recorded by the clerk):
- Motion to excuse absent members: moved by Rep. Bagole; adopted by unanimous consent (members excused by no objection).
- Approval of minutes from prior meeting: moved by Rep. Wozniak; approved by unanimous consent.
- House Bill 4,033: moved and reported with recommendation (clerk recorded the report; roll‑call summary entered in minutes).
- Substitute and report actions on House Bill 4,034: substitute adopted and bill reported to full floor with recommendation (substitute H2 adopted, roll‑call announced as 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 passes in the record).
- House Bills 4,255 and 4,256 (fentanyl bills): both were reported with recommendation. The clerk recorded each as 8 yeas, 0 nays, 3 pass (members who passed on the vote), and the bills were placed on the committee report list for the House floor.
- House Bills 4,047 and 4,048: substitute adopted for HB 4,047; both HB 4,047 (as substitute H2) and HB 4,048 were reported with committee recommendation (final roll calls recorded as 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 passes for each in the minutes).

Committee staff presided over roll calls and posted the actions to the committee record. Several bills listed public commenters on committee sign‑in sheets; those comments were noted in the committee minutes even when the commenter did not speak.

The committee concluded business and invited Attorney General Dana Nessel and her staff to present on the Department of Attorney General’s priorities and programs.

The committee adjourned with no additional votes recorded.","The House Judiciary Committee approved a series of procedural motions and reported several bills — including two fentanyl bills — to the full House. Most measures were reported with committee recommendation after roll‑call votes recorded in the committee minutes.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6270169,"Judiciary Committee adopts two amendments and reports anti‑SLAPP bill to House as amended substitute",435,671000,1106000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3039035-dfc97a725f264fd65d76cce5dcb4a9c7&start=671&end=1106","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3039035-dfc97a725f264fd65d76cce5dcb4a9c7/thumbnail_671000.jpg","/articles/6270169/Michigan/Judiciary-Committee-adopts-two-amendments-and-reports-antiSLAPP-bill-to-House-as-amended-substitute","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270169-ccc3152d4011a70c6d08e6d6e4dc9858/orig.mp4?Expires=1770970424&Signature=e1C7t76hUtaSQp2sat~OPbbhBam6J4U6-mRGEbUUiFve2mchYrCXaM5Wt7iR13K7J4dbscXOqOxWM-0Q8Wk10-JcWCXZOykrCZ2xyqPDEAFNxb7xIddPcf0JVp4SDrRElGXIWlUDlEy6f4TGHvSYl1Q7izlsCjwmGB6fWEeIibUrVvATGLzUx-LGj22IAwvo2ZhBKL9ypsE3Moy4ZAIr1PKfmUiGk5kRfIzFcIZxJytn~My2r5q7z5Rdz3PrZanbfBtVhOC6vefSgnXdy9NVTlaXxMCO-Yr7Pt~qlRICi9ZP479Ky6BvFNCERu0oQk6vWd1bGKTg~c9m4cKQoP4bfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Judiciary Committee voted 11–0 to report House Bill 4,045 to the full House as an amended substitute Tuesday after adopting two amendments that change exceptions in the bill, committee members said.

Supporters said the bill provides an expedited remedy for defendants facing strategic lawsuits against public participation (commonly called SLAPP suits); opponents warned some changes could undermine First Amendment protections.

Representative DeBoyer, who offered the first amendment, said her change \"would place the government on the same footing as every other party in these types of litigation matters.\" DeBoyer moved to strike language from the bill that created exceptions for lawsuits brought by or against the government or government employees; she said the amendment would allow a government defendant or a citizen sued by a government actor access to the bill’s expedited dismissal process.

Representative Johnson later offered a second amendment with similar intent. Johnson said an \"automatic stay is an automatic stay and there should be no exceptions for lawsuits filed by the government against its citizens in an attempt to chill the expression of their First Amendment rights.\" Both amendments were adopted by roll call.

Representative Hope said she would oppose the amendments, arguing that the exceptions at issue provide \"protection against anti‑SLAPP motions\" that the representative believes are necessary to protect individuals’ First Amendment rights.

Nicole Kiwe Biber of Clean Water Action addressed the committee during the public‑comment period in support of the bill as amended, saying organized public participation on environmental and water‑quality matters can be chilled by retaliatory litigation.

The committee adopted the two amendments and then voted to report House Bill 4,045, as amended, to the full House. The clerk recorded the final committee vote as 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 passes. The committee record shows earlier roll calls adopting amendment number 1 and amendment number 2; each was recorded as adopted (roll‑call tallies recorded in the minutes). The bill will next appear on the House floor calendar.

Committee action distinguished formal votes from discussion: the amendments and the motion to report were recorded as formal actions; members’ remarks during debate were entered as discussion. Public commenters supporting the amended bill were noted on the committee record.

Rights and limits cited during debate included references to the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment and to the bill’s statutory mechanics for expedited dismissal and stays of proceedings. Committee members asked staff for additional drafting and context before floor action.

House Bill 4,045 as amended was reported to the full House as an amended substitute with the committee recommendation.","The House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to adopt two amendments to House Bill 4,045 and reported the bill to the full House as an amended substitute after debate about government‑filed lawsuits and First Amendment protections.","actionData","errors"]

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Attorney General Dana Nessel outlines office activities, budgetary impact and legislative priorities to Judiciary Committee

Judiciary Committee reports multiple bills to House floor; fentanyl measures advance

Judiciary Committee adopts two amendments and reports anti‑SLAPP bill to House as amended substitute