[{"_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",6482211,"mediaKeyId","5608987-65bbf40cd7cdda7e95fae5e90fd8a13e","parentId",5608987,"title","Panel weighs making highway blockades a misdemeanor after protesters occupied roadways","audioSeconds",432,"startMs",2537000,"endMs",2969000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5608987-65bbf40cd7cdda7e95fae5e90fd8a13e&start=2537&end=2969","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5608987-65bbf40cd7cdda7e95fae5e90fd8a13e/thumbnail_2537000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6482211/Michigan/Panel-weighs-making-highway-blockades-a-misdemeanor-after-protesters-occupied-roadways","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482211-2c35b89d96ee5a49d76bc66846f9d010/orig.mp4?Expires=1773568683&Signature=cjJU5j6XJfScFxzYUCzUIKhIlC5cQwMJicD1ts1wNEh35Ywnv64DF~hVJu0xLq305zOFxUj4Ibuy0qq8msbE25GMKctirIe-zg115xkXgO5~WRUtRqk4uyolnTAu7tGaIx8ufH0~KMmfu~OinYYdtB61K7XoTRE4ainQn96MkiGx1ZjOA2hKU4QsepxjCgszc6Pd6Cr3KHGVqEJJ8t5dtuRbHoeXGaUdDanJOGLF91Kqo8sfs6gtshpDRXKbPW66iXA08q1Bd1uG19gdlPOFNRw-xqhsuHXX6O9Bu8BR~PzFdjkUDk4Mc3scqX-rwqfyqg4wies6daEURCO3DUVQMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Michigan Legislature","date","2025-08-20T16:31:32.943Z","article","The Michigan House Judiciary Committee heard spirited testimony on House Bill 4664, a proposal to make intentional, assembly-based obstruction of public highways a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Sponsor Rep. Saint Germain said the measure is narrow and focused on safety: \"We have had protests ... blocking people from getting to work, coming home, getting to the airport, getting to a hospital,\" he told the committee, describing videos shown during the hearing and arguing that occupants in a vehicle can be held \"hostage\" when a crowd blocks traffic. Saint Germain said the bill is intended to protect emergency access and public safety.

Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido and Oakland County Sheriff Mike Burchard testified in support. Lucido told the committee that existing disorderly-conduct or permit-overage laws do not sufficiently address people who deliberately impede highway traffic and said the proposed misdemeanor would give enforcement \"teeth.\" Sheriff Burchard said blocking roadways can have \"life and death ramifications\" by delaying emergency vehicles and cited local incidents, including multiple pedestrian hit-and-run events in Pontiac in the prior year.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan opposed the bill. Kyle Zawaki, legislative director for the ACLU of Michigan, said the proposal would \"criminalize assembly on public highways\" and risk a chilling effect on First Amendment protests. \"Driving is not a right. It is a privilege,\" Zawaki said during testimony, adding that public streets historically serve as venues for political speech.

Committee members questioned scope and enforceability. Rep. DeBoer and others argued that free-speech protections weigh heavily in public-space cases and warned of a chilling effect if organizers or participants fear criminal prosecution. Rep. Carter asked staff for historical counts of highway-blocking incidents; the sponsor cited several recent events in Ann Arbor and Detroit-area incidents and said organizers have staged large, planned blockades of interstates.

The committee adopted an H-1 substitute for H 4664 by roll call (substitute adoption recorded as 7 ayes, 4 nays, 0 pass) to refine the language used to define assembly and applicability. That substitute was adopted during the hearing; the transcript does not show a subsequent final roll-call vote on the underlying bill in the provided segment.

Supporters said the bill would create a clearer criminal standard to deter dangerous blockades and give law enforcement a stronger tool. Opponents said enforcement discretion already exists under current civil and criminal statutes and urged restraint to avoid curbing protected protest activity.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Judiciary - 8/20/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Republican sponsor and law enforcement urged criminal penalties for people who occupy public highways and block traffic; the ACLU warned the change would chill constitutionally protected protest. Committee adopted a substitute and exchanged questions but did not report final passage in the transcript segment.","taxTitle","2025-2026 House Legislature MI, Michigan","taxId",77683,"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},6482215,"Committee advances technical fix to authorize surrogate medical decision makers to consent to treatment",393,1926000,2319000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5608987-65bbf40cd7cdda7e95fae5e90fd8a13e&start=1926&end=2319","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5608987-65bbf40cd7cdda7e95fae5e90fd8a13e/thumbnail_1926000.jpg","/articles/6482215/Michigan/Committee-advances-technical-fix-to-authorize-surrogate-medical-decision-makers-to-consent-to-treatment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482215-6d29e15fde052c71cafdc0215360a15a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773568683&Signature=fXtbpFNvP3wvSlObJ5ppJr8NGknaNR~vTUwNZQi8MmDusQaHR9dvd7MDios6HPhLX6aRZ9JG3b-W-Mx6OoBzMM3VNYebg9T5DUzHci~bkZvKUvZMXO6mZG8E0XqQ2oM5JgAkLEq3AE5zxRWhNeYkBY3yT4-6SHlTrlo0IgMSo1RM7UdBONweEm7dJ8llLigb2sZYTuAWsIEd8VYg8Bh3q3ZL3E47SdGSaD88u8SSZcdawnd2oBIkqQ0RNgg1yQfQAJWinjyCasfoLV2NzznfeqqWtXvx0DfJJv41CpVCKdQC7nTWwwnlpyRe7tNGcf2-DOvI~Ojgb2EmjzovZ5n~rA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Michigan House Judiciary Committee reported House Bill 4734 with recommendation after hearing testimony that the trailer bill restores authorization for surrogate medical decision makers to consent to medical treatment for incapacitated patients.

Sponsor testimony described HB 4734 as a technical, corrective measure tied to prior legislation. A witness from Right to Life of Michigan, Genevieve Marnin, told the committee the bill \"would allow the surrogate medical decision makers created under Rep. Thompson's House Bill 4418 to consent to medical treatment on behalf of the patient who cannot make decisions for themselves.\" Marnin said the measure would align Michigan with other states and ensure consent remains a standard of medical ethics.

Committee members asked about safeguards. Rep. Wozniak asked whether there is vetting for a person \"standing in loco parentis\" or a patient advocate; witnesses explained existing law provides court challenges and removal procedures for problematic guardians or advocates. Marnin said the surrogate decision-maker language establishes a family-hierarchy approach — spouse, adult child, adult parent — and that HB 4734 \"simply says in section 466h, surrogate medical decision makers are allowed to consent to medical treatment.\"

Rep. Bagole moved to report House Bill 4734 with recommendation. The committee roll call showed nine \"yes\" votes, zero \"nays\" and two passes; the motion prevailed.

Lawmakers described HB 4734 as a clarification and asked staff to coordinate language with the related substitute package. Committee members indicated they view the measure as corrective rather than substantive policy change; several said they were open to minor drafting work to ensure the surrogate hierarchy and existing patient-advocate protections align across statutes.","The committee reported House Bill 4734 with recommendation after testimony that the trailer bill would allow surrogate medical decision makers created in earlier legislation to provide consent for incapacitated patients; lawmakers described the bill as a technical fix and voted 9-0 with two members passing.",{"_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},6482219,"House committee hears bill to reinstate 'open-and-obvious' rule for premises liability",818,308000,1126000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5608987-65bbf40cd7cdda7e95fae5e90fd8a13e&start=308&end=1126","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5608987-65bbf40cd7cdda7e95fae5e90fd8a13e/thumbnail_308000.jpg","/articles/6482219/Michigan/House-committee-hears-bill-to-reinstate-open-and-obvious-rule-for-premises-liability","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482219-5bb740a380d657481707519244aa19e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773568683&Signature=BWdoaa1pO5kkNO-sq7pOMfArQ8s-wrjt9aAgrgSk1DpFfKNfjrJKFvkfkZ2y~puMosPXSm1ruzMN6LmIc8RLJzZABrDFx2Ih0JuBHyJ-dzSmjwi0JhXKFHm0uiRo0rXx9EmA28ktW2U8qoa5bfaqsmeisrCr463YRKq54zZA56IpeqV6HMT3M9BxynDu~gNbRwb26CUkGhEqfDbhW6oh3QmHelBRnqCL-d5vM-tjGfA31a-vntQfEpBmqMiCKRgQJyGkXk03Z40GVPY8H6QFTkD5~KUrvmiDlDIP-KLrZnxu7SFFktZoRd7jM4FuPo4xKkb2kIbDB2tBp7bFvwROJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Michigan House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on House Bill 4582, which sponsor Rep. Nyer said would \"restore the clarity and balance of Michigan premise liability law\" that he described as disrupted by recent Michigan Supreme Court decisions.

Supporters — including the National Federation of Independent Business, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Association of Michigan — told the committee HB 4582 would protect small businesses from a surge in slip-and-fall litigation and higher insurance costs. \"For decades, long standing open and obvious doctrine has provided property owners ... no duty or protection to invitees for hazards that were blatantly apparent,\" Rep. Nyer said, offering examples such as a hole in a parking lot or a snow-covered sidewalk.

Amanda Fisher, Michigan state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, told lawmakers HB 4582 was \"a step forward toward regaining a fair and reasonable standard in regard to premises liability.\" Fisher said the 2023 Michigan Supreme Court rulings eliminated the open-and-obvious doctrine \"as a threshold issue in premises liability cases\" and that change has forced judges and juries to engage in more detailed factual inquiries, increasing litigation costs.

Randy Gross, senior director of legislative affairs for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, told the committee the change in doctrine has \"resulted in increased litigation\" and in higher premiums for members. Jacob Manning, advocacy and policy manager at the Small Business Association of Michigan, said SBAM surveys show small businesses are already stressed by rising costs and that additional liability exposure threatens to divert resources from operations.

The Michigan Association for Justice opposed the bill. Mitch Elbers, legal counsel for the Michigan Association for Justice, told the committee HB 4582 would \"reduce the safety for guests and customers at commercial spaces in Michigan.\" Elbers said the judicially created open-and-obvious doctrine previously encouraged property owners to maintain safer premises and that some plaintiffs — including elderly or disabled people — would be disadvantaged if the statutory change re-created broad immunity for property possessors.

Committee members questioned the bill's scope. Rep. Harris pointed to a provision on page 3 that excludes conditions \"inside a building or other structure on the premises,\" asking why interior hazards are treated differently. Rep. Nyer said the bill focuses on exterior conditions because outdoor environments involve more variables — for example, weather-related hazards — and that the sponsor is \"willing to work\" on potential changes to address interior conditions.

No formal committee vote on House Bill 4582 was recorded in the hearing segment provided; multiple business and trade groups submitted written support and several representatives offered in-person testimony during the hearing.

Because testimony diverged on likely effects, committee discussion focused on narrowing language and preserving remedies for truly negligent conduct while restoring an objective, early-dismissal standard for plainly visible hazards.","The Michigan House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on House Bill 4582, which would restore the \"open and obvious\" doctrine in premises liability law; business groups urged passage citing rising litigation costs, while trial lawyers warned the change would reduce protections for vulnerable people.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Panel weighs making highway blockades a misdemeanor after protesters occupied roadways

Committee advances technical fix to authorize surrogate medical decision makers to consent to treatment

House committee hears bill to reinstate 'open-and-obvious' rule for premises liability