SB 694 — Elections: scheduling; reference to August primary election in the revised judicature act of 1961; revise to May primary election. Amends secs. 550, 550a, 805, 8175 & 8176 of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.550 et seq.). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0691'25

SB-694, As Passed Senate, March 18, 2026 SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO.

(1) An additional circuit judgeship permitted by this chapter shall is not be authorized to be filled by election unless each county in the circuit, by resolution adopted by the county board of commissioners, approves the creation of that judgeship and unless the clerk of each county adopting such a that STM S02806'25 c (S-1)(S-1)_SB694_APS_1 j9piw2764a9o 1 resolution files a copy of the resolution with the state court administrator not later than 4 p.m.

If a county, acting through its the county's board of commissioners, approves the creation of an additional circuit judgeship, that STM S02806'25 c (S-1)(S-1)_SB694_APS_1 j9piw2764a9o 1 approval constitutes an exercise of the county's option to provide a new activity or service or to increase the level of activity or service offered in the county beyond that required by existing law, as the elements of that option are defined by 1979 PA 101, MCL 21.231 to 21.244, and a voluntary acceptance by the county of all expenses and capital improvements which that may result from the creation of the judgeship.

STM S02806'25 c (S-1)(S-1)_SB694_APS_1 j9piw2764a9o 1 (a) Each county in the circuit, by resolution adopted by the county board of commissioners, supports the temporary reduction in the number of judgeships.

of the STM S02806'25 c (S-1)(S-1)_SB694_APS_1 j9piw2764a9o 1 sixteenth Tuesday preceding one hundred fifty-first day before the August May primary immediately following the effective date of the amendatory act permitting the creation of the new circuit.

The first term of each circuit judgeship is 6 years, unless the law permitting the creation of the new circuit STM S02806'25 c (S-1)(S-1)_SB694_APS_1 j9piw2764a9o 1 and 1 or more judgeships provides for a term of a different length.

If a county, acting through its the county's board of commissioners, approves the creation of an additional judge of probate, that approval constitutes an exercise of the county's option to provide a new activity or service or to increase the level of activity or service offered in the county beyond that required by existing law, as the elements of that option are defined by 1979 PA 101, MCL 21.231 to 21.244, and a STM S02806'25 c (S-1)(S-1)_SB694_APS_1 j9piw2764a9o 1 voluntary acceptance by the county of all expenses and capital improvements that may result from the creation of the judgeship.

of the sixteenth Tuesday preceding one hundred fifty- first day before the August May primary for the election to fill STM S02806'25 c (S-1)(S-1)_SB694_APS_1 j9piw2764a9o 1 the additional district judgeship.

However, the STM S02806'25 c (S-1)(S-1)_SB694_APS_1 j9piw2764a9o 1 exercise of the option does not affect the this state's obligation to pay the same portion of the additional judge's salary which that is paid by the this state to the other district judges in the same district, or to appropriate and disburse funds to the district control unit for the necessary costs of state requirements established by a state law which that becomes effective on or after December 23, 1978.

The state court administrator shall immediately notify the elections division of the department of state with respect to STM S02806'25 c (S-1)(S-1)_SB694_APS_1 j9piw2764a9o 1 each new judicial district and district judgeship authorized under this subsection.

However, the exercise of the option does not affect the this state's obligation to pay the same STM S02806'25 c (S-1)(S-1)_SB694_APS_1 j9piw2764a9o 1 portion of each judge's salary which that is paid by the this state to other district judges as provided by law, or to appropriate and disburse funds to the district control unit for the necessary costs of state requirements established by a state law that becomes effective on or after December 23, 1978.

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