Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Introduced 1 R cosponsors

HB 5121 — Civil procedure: service of process; cost for service of process for personal protection orders; eliminate. Amends sec. 2950a of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.2950a) & adds secs. 2950d & 2950p. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5120'25, HB 6033'26

Last action — 10/1/2026 - REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS, JUDICIARY, AND PUBLIC SAFETY

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced October 01, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Not enough signal yet

Not enough signal yet to read this bill's trajectory — we surface a likelihood only once there's real movement (stage, sponsorship, committee, or votes) to point to.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill eliminates the cost for serving personal protection orders.

This bill amends civil procedure laws to remove fees associated with serving personal protection orders. It aims to alleviate the financial burden on individuals seeking these orders.

What this means for you
  • Families: This means families can seek personal protection orders without the burden of service fees.

Summary

Civil procedure: service of process; cost for service of process for personal protection orders; eliminate. Amends sec. 2950a of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.2950a) & adds secs. 2950d & 2950p. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5120'25, HB 6033'26

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

492 added · 496 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of Bill HB 5121 includes provisions allowing individuals to petition for personal protection orders against someone engaging in specific prohibited conduct, particularly stalking, without needing to prove that the individual has been charged or convicted under those legal sections. This change matters because it may make it easier for victims to seek protective measures more swiftly, thereby enhancing their safety and addressing potentially harmful behaviors before they escalate.

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HOUSE BILL NO.
SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO.
5121 October 23, 2025, Introduced by Reps.
5121 A bill to amend 1961 PA 236, entitled "Revised judicature act of 1961," by amending section 2950a (MCL 600.2950a), as amended by 2018 PA 146, and by adding sections 2950d and 2950p.
Lightner, Scott, Rogers, Mentzer, Weiss, Snyder, Wooden, Edwards, Wilson, Hoskins, Breen, Glanville, Brixie, Pohutsky, Greene, Koleszar, Foreman, Witwer, Conlin, Arbit, Tsernoglou, Xiong, Byrnes, Longjohn, Coffia, Fitzgerald, McFall, MacDonell, Dievendorf, Morgan, Price, Grant, Paiz, Green, Tate, T.
Carter, Miller, Liberati, Rheingans, Herzberg, McKinney, Hope, Martus, Skaggs, Slagh and Farhat and referred to Committee on Judiciary.
A bill to amend 1961 PA 236, entitled "Revised judicature act of 1961," by amending section 2950a (MCL 600.2950a), as amended by 2018 PA 146, and by adding sections 2950d and 2950p.
(1) Except as provided in subsections (27), (28), and (30), (29), and (31), by commencing an independent action to obtain relief under this section, by joining a claim to an action, or by filing a motion in an action in which the petitioner and the TDR H04741'25_HB5121_INTR_1 yowhv9 1 individual to be restrained or enjoined are parties, an individual may petition the family division of circuit court to enter a personal protection order to restrain or enjoin an individual from engaging in conduct that is prohibited under section 411h, 411i, or 411s of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.411h, 750.411i, and 750.411s.
(1) Except as provided in subsections (27), (28), and (30), (29), and (31), by commencing an independent action to obtain relief under this section, by joining a claim to an action, or by filing a motion in an action in which the petitioner and the individual to be restrained or enjoined are parties, an individual may petition the family division of circuit court to enter a personal protection order to restrain or enjoin an individual from engaging in conduct that is prohibited under section 411h, 411i, or TDR H04741'25 (H-1) nb0r2e 1 411s of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.411h, 750.411i, and 750.411s.
A court shall grant relief under TDR H04741'25_HB5121_INTR_1 yowhv9 1 this subdivision if the court determines that the respondent has been convicted of a sexual assault of the petitioner or that the respondent was convicted of furnishing obscene material to the petitioner under section 142 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.142, or a substantially similar law of the United States, another state, or a foreign country or tribal or military law.
A court shall grant relief under this subdivision if the court determines that the respondent has been convicted of a sexual assault of the petitioner or that the respondent was convicted of furnishing obscene material to the petitioner under section 142 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA TDR H04741'25 (H-1) nb0r2e 1 328, MCL 750.142, or a substantially similar law of the United States, another state, or a foreign country or tribal or military law.
TDR H04741'25_HB5121_INTR_1 yowhv9 1 (d) Interfering with the petitioner's efforts to remove the petitioner's children or personal property from premises that are solely owned or leased by the individual to be restrained or enjoined.
(d) Interfering with the petitioner's efforts to remove the petitioner's children or personal property from premises that are solely owned or leased by the individual to be restrained or enjoined.
(e) Interfering with the petitioner at the petitioner's place of employment or education or engaging in conduct that impairs the petitioner's employment or educational relationship or environment.
TDR H04741'25 (H-1) nb0r2e 1 (e) Interfering with the petitioner at the petitioner's place of employment or education or engaging in conduct that impairs the petitioner's employment or educational relationship or environment.
(4) Section 520j of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.520j, applies in any hearing on a petition for, a motion to modify or terminate, or an alleged violation of a personal TDR H04741'25_HB5121_INTR_1 yowhv9 1 protection order requested or issued under subsection (2), except as follows:
(4) Section 520j of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.520j, applies in any hearing on a petition for, a motion to modify or terminate, or an alleged violation of a personal protection order requested or issued under subsection (2), except as follows:
(a) The written motion and offer of proof must be filed at least 24 hours before a hearing on a petition to issue a personal protection order or on an alleged violation of a personal protection order.
(a) The written motion and offer of proof must be filed at least 24 hours before a hearing on a petition to issue a personal TDR H04741'25 (H-1) nb0r2e 1 protection order or on an alleged violation of a personal protection order.
(7) If a court issues or refuses to issue a personal protection order, the court shall immediately state in writing the TDR H04741'25_HB5121_INTR_1 yowhv9 1 specific reasons for issuing or refusing to issue the personal protection order.
(7) If a court issues or refuses to issue a personal protection order, the court shall immediately state in writing the specific reasons for issuing or refusing to issue the personal protection order.
(8) A court shall not issue a mutual personal protection order.
TDR H04741'25 (H-1) nb0r2e 1 (8) A court shall not issue a mutual personal protection order.
(i) If the respondent is 17 years of age or older, immediate TDR H04741'25_HB5121_INTR_1 yowhv9 1 arrest and the civil and criminal contempt powers of the court.
(i) If the respondent is 17 years of age or older, immediate arrest and the civil and criminal contempt powers of the court.
(ii) If the respondent is less than 17 years of age, immediate apprehension or being taken into custody and the dispositional alternatives listed in section 18 of chapter XIIA of the probate code of 1939, 1939 PA 288, MCL 712A.18.
TDR H04741'25 (H-1) nb0r2e 1 (ii) If the respondent is less than 17 years of age, immediate apprehension or being taken into custody and the dispositional alternatives listed in section 18 of chapter XIIA of the probate code of 1939, 1939 PA 288, MCL 712A.18.
(h) (g) For an ex parte order, a statement that the individual restrained or enjoined may file a motion to modify or rescind the personal protection order and request a hearing within 14 days TDR H04741'25_HB5121_INTR_1 yowhv9 1 after the individual restrained or enjoined is served or receives actual notice of the personal protection order and that motion forms and filing instructions are available from the clerk of the court.
(h) (g) For an ex parte order, a statement that the individual restrained or enjoined may file a motion to modify or rescind the personal protection order and request a hearing within 14 days after the individual restrained or enjoined is served or receives actual notice of the personal protection order and that motion forms and filing instructions are available from the clerk of the court.
(13) (12) A court shall not issue a personal protection order ex parte without written or oral notice to the individual enjoined or his or her the individual's attorney unless it clearly appears from specific facts shown by a verified complaint, written motion, or affidavit that immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage will result from the delay required to effectuate notice or that the notice will precipitate adverse action before a personal protection order can be issued.
TDR H04741'25 (H-1) nb0r2e 1 (13) (12) A court shall not issue a personal protection order ex parte without written or oral notice to the individual enjoined or his or her the individual's attorney unless it clearly appears from specific facts shown by a verified complaint, written motion, or affidavit that immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage will result from the delay required to effectuate notice or that the notice will precipitate adverse action before a personal protection order can be issued.
If the respondent is a person described in subsection (5) and the personal protection order prohibits him or her from purchasing or possessing a firearm, the court shall schedule a hearing on the motion to modify or rescind the ex parte personal protection order within 5 days after the TDR H04741'25_HB5121_INTR_1 yowhv9 1 motion to modify or rescind is filed.
If the respondent is a person an individual described in subsection (5) and the personal protection order prohibits him or her the respondent from purchasing or possessing a firearm, the court shall schedule a hearing on the motion to modify or rescind the ex parte personal protection order within 5 days after the motion to modify or rescind is filed.
(16) (15) The clerk of the court that issues a personal protection order shall do all of the following immediately upon issuance without requiring proof of service on the individual restrained or enjoined:
(16) (15) The clerk of the court that issues a personal protection order shall do all of the following immediately upon issuance without requiring proof of service on the individual TDR H04741'25 (H-1) nb0r2e 1 restrained or enjoined:
(g) (f) If the individual restrained or enjoined is identified TDR H04741'25_HB5121_INTR_1 yowhv9 1 in the pleadings as a person who may have access to information concerning the petitioner or a child of the petitioner or individual and that information is contained in friend of the court records, notify the friend of the court for the county in which the information is located of the existence of the personal protection order.
(g) (f) If the individual restrained or enjoined is identified in the pleadings as a person who may have access to information concerning the petitioner or a child of the petitioner or individual and that information is contained in friend of the court records, notify the friend of the court for the county in which the TDR H04741'25 (H-1) nb0r2e 1 information is located of the existence of the personal protection order.
If the individual restrained or enjoined is less than TDR H04741'25_HB5121_INTR_1 yowhv9 1 18 years of age, the parent, guardian, or custodian of the individual must also be served personally or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, delivery restricted to the addressee at the last known address or addresses of the parent, guardian, or custodian.
If the individual restrained or enjoined is less than 18 years of age, the parent, guardian, or custodian of the individual must also be served personally or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, delivery restricted to the addressee at the last known address or addresses of the parent, TDR H04741'25 (H-1) nb0r2e 1 guardian, or custodian.
(22) (21) Subject to subsection (22), (23), a personal protection order is immediately enforceable anywhere in this state by any law enforcement agency that has received a true copy of the order, is shown a copy of it, or has verified its existence on the L.E.I.N.
(22) (21) Subject to subsection (22), (23), a personal protection order is immediately enforceable anywhere in this state by any law enforcement agency that has received a true copy of the order, is shown a copy of it, the order, or has verified its the order's existence on the L.E.I.N.
(23) (22) If the individual restrained or enjoined by a personal protection order has not been served, a law enforcement TDR H04741'25_HB5121_INTR_1 yowhv9 1 agency or officer responding to a call alleging a violation of the personal protection order shall serve the individual restrained or enjoined with a true copy of the order or advise the individual restrained or enjoined of the existence of the personal protection order, the specific conduct enjoined, the penalties for violating the order, and where the individual restrained or enjoined may obtain a copy of the order.
(23) (22) If the individual restrained or enjoined by a personal protection order has not been served, a law enforcement agency or officer responding to a call alleging a violation of the personal protection order shall serve the individual restrained or enjoined with a true copy of the order or advise the individual restrained or enjoined of the existence of the personal protection TDR H04741'25 (H-1) nb0r2e 1 order, the specific conduct enjoined, the penalties for violating the order, and where the individual restrained or enjoined may obtain a copy of the order.
An individual less than 17 years of age who refuses or fails to TDR H04741'25_HB5121_INTR_1 yowhv9 1 comply with a personal protection order issued under this section is subject to the dispositional alternatives listed in section 18 of chapter XIIA of the probate code of 1939, 1939 PA 288, MCL 712A.18.
An individual less than 17 years of age who refuses or fails to comply with a personal protection order issued under this section is subject to the dispositional alternatives listed in section 18 of chapter XIIA of the probate code of 1939, 1939 PA 288, MCL 712A.18.
The criminal penalty under this section may be imposed in addition to any penalty that may be imposed for any other criminal offense arising from the same conduct.
The criminal penalty under this section may be imposed in TDR H04741'25 (H-1) nb0r2e 1 addition to any penalty that may be imposed for any other criminal offense arising from the same conduct.
TDR H04741'25_HB5121_INTR_1 yowhv9 1 (30) (29) A personal protection order issued before March 1, 1999 is not invalid on the ground that it does not comply with 1 or more of the requirements added by 1998 PA 476.
(30) (29) A personal protection order issued before March 1, 1999 is not invalid on the ground grounds that it does not comply with 1 or more of the requirements added by 1998 PA 476.
(31) (30) A court shall not issue a personal protection order under this section if the petitioner is a prisoner.
(31) (30) A court shall not issue a personal protection order TDR H04741'25 (H-1) nb0r2e 1 under this section if the petitioner is a prisoner.
(c) "L.E.I.N." means the law enforcement information network TDR H04741'25_HB5121_INTR_1 yowhv9 1 administered under the C.J.I.S.
(c) "L.E.I.N." means the law enforcement information network administered under the C.J.I.S.
(d) "Personal protection order" means an injunctive order issued by the family division of circuit court restraining or enjoining conduct prohibited under subsection (1) or (3).
(d) "Personal protection order" means an injunctive order issued by the family division of circuit court restraining or TDR H04741'25 (H-1) nb0r2e 1 enjoining conduct prohibited under subsection (1) or (3).
If service cannot be completed within 10 calendar days after the first attempt, the TDR H04741'25_HB5121_INTR_1 yowhv9 1 law enforcement agency shall do all of the following:
If service cannot be completed within 10 calendar days after the first attempt, the law enforcement agency shall do all of the following:
(b) Within 3 business days, complete and file a proof of service form documenting each service attempt and stating the reason it was not served.
TDR H04741'25 (H-1) nb0r2e 1 (b) Within 3 business days, complete and file a proof of service form documenting each service attempt and stating the reason it was not served.
A party may acknowledge receipt of the order in writing, on the record, or in TDR H04741'25_HB5121_INTR_1 yowhv9 1 any other manner allowed by the court rules.
A party may acknowledge receipt of the order in writing, on the record, or in any other manner allowed by the court rules.
If delivery to a party is not possible at the time the order is entered, the clerk shall mail true copies of the order to the party by first-class mail to the address on record with the court and shall file a proof of service.
If delivery to a party is not possible at the time the order is TDR H04741'25 (H-1) nb0r2e 1 entered, the clerk shall mail true copies of the order to the party by first-class mail to the address on record with the court and shall file a proof of service.
(a) To provide for service by law enforcement agencies of court documents in proceedings for personal protection orders under TDR H04741'25_HB5121_INTR_1 yowhv9 sections 2950 and 2950a, and foreign protection orders under section 2950l, as provided in section 2559, to assure compliance with section 40121 of the violence against women act of 1994, 34 USC 10450.
(a) To provide for service by law enforcement agencies of court documents in proceedings for personal protection orders under sections 2950 and 2950a, and foreign protection orders under section 2950l, as provided in section 2559, to assure compliance with section 40121 of the violence against women act of 1994, 34 USC 10450.
(b) To pay the costs of administering the fund.
TDR H04741'25 (H-1) nb0r2e (b) To pay the costs of administering the fund.
This amendatory act does not take effect unless Senate Bill No.
This amendatory act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 103rd Legislature are enacted into law:
____ (request no.
(a) House Bill No.
S04613'25) or House Bill No.
5120.
5120 (request no.
(b) House Bill No.
H04613'25) of the 103rd Legislature is enacted into law.
6033.
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Action History

  1. 10/1/2026 - REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS, JUDICIARY, AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 146 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (146)

146 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 5121 do?
Civil procedure: service of process; cost for service of process for personal protection orders; eliminate. Amends sec. 2950a of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.2950a) & adds secs. 2950d & 2950p. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5120'25, HB 6033'26
Who sponsors HB 5121?
HB 5121 is sponsored by Sarah Lightner (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 5121?
This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced October 01, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 5121?
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