HB 4840 Michigan House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Courts: business court; types of cases heard by the business court; revise. Amends sec. 8031 of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.8031).

HB 4840 clarifies which business-related disputes must be heard in Michigan's specialized business court. It defines "business court" to handle cases involving commercial contracts, mergers, intellectual property, software disputes, business governance, and commercial real estate. The bill explicitly excludes personal injury claims, employment discrimination, family court matters, worker's compensation, and most individual consumer insurance disputes from business court jurisdiction. This change directly affects businesses, courts, and legal professionals by streamlining where certain commercial cases are filed and resolved.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Sep 2025

Committee Review

Nov 2025

House Passage

Nov 2025

Senate Passage

Nov 2025

Governor

Introduced Sep 4, 2025 Last action Nov 6, 2025

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What changed between versions

House Introduced Bill → As Passed by the House · 4 edits · Nov 4, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends the Revised Judicature Act to expand the definition of 'business enterprise' and add new categories of disputes that qualify for the Business Court. The changes broaden eligibility to include more entity types and add new dispute categories like commercial bank transactions and insurance policies, while also clarifying exclusions for certain civil rights and employment matters.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the Business Court by adding new types of business entities and dispute categories that can be heard in the specialized docket.

DEFINITION

Expanded the definition of 'business enterprise' to include additional entity types like business trusts, real estate investment trusts, and professional corporations.

Added new subcategory (iii) to define disputes involving nonprofit organizations' internal governance and finances as business or commercial disputes.

SCOPE

Added new dispute categories including commercial bank transactions and commercial insurance policies to the list of matters eligible for the Business Court.

Updated the list of excluded matters by reorganizing and clarifying exclusions for civil rights, employment discrimination, and other specific types of cases.

Floor votes · House Nov 4, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Nov 6, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS, JUDICIARY, AND PUBLIC SAFETY

upper

Nov 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED BY HOUSE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

upper

Nov 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

passed; given immediate effect Roll Call #289 Yeas 99 Nays 1 Excused 0 Not Voting 10

lower

Oct 22, 2025

Committee

referred to second reading

lower

Oct 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

reported with recommendation without amendment

lower

Sep 4, 2025

Committee

referred to Committee on Judiciary

lower

Sep 4, 2025

Introduced

introduced by Representative Rep. Sarah Lightner

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors