Technology (Civil Liberties)

SB 57 creates the "Uniform Public Expression Protection Act" to shield individuals and organizations from abusive lawsuits targeting free speech. It directly affects people sued for expressing views on public issues, such as through protests, social media, or public comments about government actions. Key provisions require courts to quickly dismiss such cases (within 60 days) by staying discovery, shifting the burden to prove the lawsuit is valid to the plaintiff, and imposing sanctions for frivolous claims. The law excludes lawsuits involving government employees, civil rights claims, or commercial speech about goods/services, focusing solely on protecting constitutional expression rights.

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.