Criminal Justice (Civil Liberties)

This bill creates a new legal cause of action in Michigan allowing individuals to sue anyone who deprives them of rights protected by the U.S. Constitution while acting under the authority of the law. It establishes that victims of such civil rights violations can seek redress in court, while also defining specific rules for when judges can be held personally liable and limiting the types of relief available against them. The legislation sets a two-year time limit for filing these lawsuits and permits courts to award reasonable attorney fees to successful plaintiffs, though it preserves existing defenses like sovereign immunity and qualified immunity.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify when Michigan's Supreme Court must determine if rebellion or invasion justifies suspending habeas corpus. It requires the court to rule within 48 hours if the governor, attorney general, or both legislative chambers (via roll call vote) request such a determination. The amendment directly affects the Supreme Court's role in emergency civil liberties decisions, ensuring a timely judicial check on potential government actions during crises. It does not change existing habeas corpus protections but adds procedural clarity to emergency suspensions.

SB 509 prohibits Michigan government entities (like police departments, courts, or DMVs) from sharing personal information - including addresses, IDs, or criminal history - with federal immigration authorities unless a court-issued warrant is presented. It requires agencies to verify if requests are for immigration enforcement and deny such requests without a warrant. Agencies must also report annual data on these requests to state officials by March 31 each year. The law aims to prevent local government data from being used in federal immigration actions without judicial oversight.