House judiciary committee adopts substitutes for Judicial Protection Act and related elected‑official privacy bill after heated public testimony

The Michigan House Judiciary Committee on a voice and roll call adopted substitute language to Senate Bill 82, the Judicial Protection Act, and to House Bill 4397, an elected‑officials privacy measure, after more than an hour of public testimony both opposing and supporting the changes.

Supporters told the committee the legislation is intended to protect judges and other public officeholders and their household members from doxxing and violent threats. Alan Heintz, chief of staff for Sen. Stephanie Chang, described SB 82 as a reintroduction of prior law developed “in collaboration with a work group of state and federal judges as well as the State Bar of Michigan” and said the substitute is tie‑barred to related legislation by Rep. Leitner. The committee adopted SB 82’s H‑3 substitute and later reported the bill out of committee with recommendation.

Opponents, including multiple witnesses who said they or family members had experienced alleged abuse or misconduct in probate proceedings, urged the committee to reject the bills or narrow them. Jody White, who identified herself as from Livonia and a victim‑in‑probate advocate, said…