FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LANSING, Mich. (May 12, 2026) – NFIB Michigan State Director Amanda Fisher praised the Michigan House for passage of House Bill 5281, sponsored by Rep. Mike Harris, which would require reporting for those funding litigation in order to benefit financially.

In Michigan and many states across the nation, third party litigation funding (TPLF) operates with virtually no oversight. House Bill 5281 requires funder disclosure and registration, prohibits funder influence on case outcomes so justice remains the guiding compass, bans foreign adversaries from funding lawsuits, and caps funder earnings from awards.

“Placing guardrails on TPLF is crucial to maintaining fairness and integrity in our justice system. Without this important legislation, small businesses may be subject to meritless lawsuits as a money-making scheme,” said Amanda Fisher, NFIB Michigan State Director. “Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to unscrupulous investors as they are less able to afford drawn out legal battles, leading to increased prices that are passed on to the consumer, job losses, and even small business closures.”

###        

For over 80 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses, and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com.