LANSING, MI – The Michigan House of Representatives today passed House Bills 5314, 5315, and 5316, a Republican-led package sponsored by Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia), Rep. Jay DeBoyer, and Rep. Cam Cavitt to curb abuses of power by the Attorney General’s office. The bills eliminate the AG’s ability to file civil actions and criminal prosecutions in Ingham County when the alleged offenses occurred elsewhere; and restrict unauthorized interventions in out-of-state lawsuits.

“Today marks a major victory for fairness and accountability in Michigan’s justice system,” said Rep. Rigas. “For too long, the Attorney General has weaponized special venue rules to drag citizens from their home counties to Lansing for prosecution in a more favorable forum, denying them a trial by a true jury of their peers. We’ve seen this power misused, and these bills put an end to it.”

A stark example came during the COVID-19 era, when Attorney General Dana Nessel targeted small business owners defying overreaching orders. Marlena Hackney, owner of Marlena’s Bistro in Holland (Allegan County), refused to close under Governor Whitmer’s unlawful executive orders. When local law enforcement declined to arrest her, Nessel sent Michigan State Police from Lansing to Ottawa County to arrest Ms. Hackney, transport her to Ingham County, jail her, and prosecute her there. This case exemplifies the gross abuse these bills address.

HB 5314 (Rigas) repeals MCL 14.102, removing the AG’s blanket authority to centralize cases in Ingham County. HB 5316 (Cavitt) amends venue rules in the Revised Judicature Act to limit Ingham County filings to cases where no other venue applies. HB 5315 (DeBoyer) amends MCL 14.28 to require AG intervention in in-state matters only when requested by the Governor or Legislature, ending unilateral interventions and out-of-state actions.

“These reforms ensure defendants are tried where the alleged crime occurred, before juries who know their community—not in a distant court chosen for political advantage,” Rigas added. “No more hauling hardworking Michiganders across the state for partisan prosecutions. This package restores balance, protects constitutional rights, and stops the weaponization of our state governement.”

The bills now head to the Senate for consideration.

Rep. Rigas and her office can be reached at (517) 373-1403 or [email protected].

#####