Public Policy Resource Center

The Public Policy Resource Center is a member resource and tool designed to provide comprehensive, up-to-date public policy information of interest to the legal profession. The site provides a search function that permits you to view all legislation organized by specialty area as it is introduced, identify the appropriate official to contact to communicate your views, and keep track of the public policy initiatives of the State Bar and its entities.

November 20, 2026
Board of Commissioners
Public Policy Items To Be Considered

Members who wish to share comments on any of the items below may do so by filling out a Public Policy Comment form or emailing ntriplett@michbar.org before 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17, 2026.

A. Court Rule Amendments
1. ADM File No. 2022-43: Proposed Amendment of MCR 2.118
The proposed amendment of MCR 2.118 would clarify that the rule does not necessarily preclude relation-back of a pleading amendment to substitute a plaintiff or correct a misnomer.

2. ADM File No. 2026-11: Proposed Amendment of MCR 2.107
In response to the updated definition of postmark by the United States Postal Service, the proposed amendment of MCR 2.107 would clarify that service is complete at the time of mailing regardless of the postmark applied and provide other types of evidence that can be introduced as evidence of the mailing date.

3. ADM File No. 2026-05: Proposed Addition of MCR 3.231
The proposed addition of MCR 3.231 would allow a trial court to apply procedural protections in domestic relations actions to allow parties in an abusive relationship to safely participate in case-related proceedings.

4. ADM File No. 2026-19: Amendment of MCR 5.207
The amendment of MCR 5.207 aligns the rule, as it relates to conservatorships, with MCL 700.5423, which requires a property appraisal to be submitted to and considered by a court before approving certain transactions involving property of a protected individual. See 2026 PA 68. In accordance with MCL 700.5423, the rule was also expanded to require judicial approval when attempting to sell, dispose, mortgage, pledge, or place a lien against a protected individual’s property.

5. ADM File No. 2024-28: Proposed Amendment of MCR 8.119
The proposed amendment of MCR 8.119 would allow the clerk of the court to reject documents submitted for filing that improperly display personal identifying information protected under MCR 1.109(D)(9) and would implement a process for judicial review of rejected filings.

B. Legislation
1. HB 6296 (Meerman) Children: services; juvenile justice and child welfare training institute and youth and family justice bureau; establish. Amends secs. 13a, 18f, 18q, 19 & 19a, ch. XIIA of 1939 PA 288 (MCL 712A.13a et seq.) & adds secs. 16b, 18u & 18v to ch. XIIA.

2. SB 1178 (Shink) Courts: other; delinquent collections program; establish. Amends title & secs. 1, 3 & 4 of 1993 PA 316 (MCL 12.131 et seq.) & adds sec. 7a.

Public Policy & the State Bar

Because the State Bar of Michigan is a mandatory bar association, the Bar can only advocate public policy positions that are reasonably related to:

  1. the regulation and discipline of attorneys;

  2. the improvement of the functioning of the courts;

  3. the availability of legal services to society;

  4. the regulation of attorney trust accounts; and

  5. the regulation of the legal profession, including the education, the ethics, the competency, and the integrity of the profession.

Sections of the State Bar that are funded by voluntary dues are not subject to these restrictions, and may engage in ideological activities on their own behalf provided that they follow the policies and procedures in Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Order 2004-01 and in Article VIII of the Bylaws of the State Bar of Michigan.

Administrative Order 2004-01 limits and describes the issues on which the State Bar may take public policy positions, and the process for section and member involvement.

Article VIII of the Bylaws of the State Bar of Michigan governs public policy advocacy by sections and committees of the State Bar.

Member Comments

Submit comments on pending public policy issues.
Members are encouraged to submit comments on pending public policy issues, including proposed court rules and legislation that is eligible to be considered by the Board of Commissioners for action. All comments received from members will be shared with the Board of Commissioners and/or Representative Assembly when they consider that public policy item.

View Member Comments on pending legislation

Submit an Amicus Request

SBM Positions

Links of Interest

Searchable Positions Database

The searchable database includes all positions taken by the State Bar and positions reported to the State Bar by its sections and committees. Users are able to search the database by legislative session, bill number, bill sponsor, State Bar positions, section positions, committee positions, or practice area.

Legislation Recently Signed into Public Acts

Sections & Committees

Public Policy Updates

Sign up here to receive the weekly public policy electronic journal.

View past issues


Member Area SBM Connect
About SBM
What We Do
Members Only
Stay Connected
© Copyright 2026 SBM. All rights reserved.