LANSING, MI -- The Michigan Senate on Thursday voted 26 to 12, approving a bill that would let the state legislature intervene in court cases.

House Bill 6553, introduced by Rep. Rob VerHeulen, R-Walker, would give the legislature a standing right to intervene in court action.

Senate changes narrowed the cases in which the legislature could intervene. As introduced, the bill allowed the legislature to intervene in any action to protect the interests of the state. But under committee changes, the legislature could intervene to protect their interests only if a court action challenged the constitutionality of a state statute or the validity of any legislative act.

The Senate rejected proposed changes from Sen. Curtis Hertel, D-East Lansing, and Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, that would have made the government pay individuals for increased costs because of legislative intervention and required the legislature get a two-thirds vote to intervene.

Hertel said the bill could increase costs for individuals who might be parties to cases the legislature intervenes in for political reasons.

“We’re talking about allowing the legislature to intervene in anyone’s case. I repeat, anyone’s personal matter. House Bill 6553 will truly bear out terribly with Michigan families,” Hertel said.

The bill passed 26-12 with Democrats, plus Republican Sen. Tory Rocca, R-Sterling Heights, voting against it.

No senator supporting the changes spoke in favor of them on the floor. In the Senate Government Operations Committee, sponsor VerHeulen said, "This is an institutional bill, it is not a partisan bill. It is designed to give the institution of the legislature, the House or the Senate, the ability to intervene when its actions are being challenged,” VerHeulen said.

In his no-vote explanation, Sen. Steve Bieda, D-Warren, cast doubt on explantions such as that.

“No matter how many times my colleagues say that this bill is about allowing the legislature to provide clarification on legislation, I just don’t believe it,” Bieda said.

Instead, he said, it is an intentional effort to undermine the role of the Attorney General’s office.

Michigan elected a Democratic attorney general in Dana Nessel, whose term starts in 2019.

Nessel Communications Director Kelly Rossman-McKinney issued a statement after the vote:

“The Attorney General-elect strongly believes in a smooth transition of power and authority. However, she has been - and continues to be - deeply concerned and troubled by the hasty legislative efforts to push through a proposal that was never properly vetted and appears to be an intentional and partisan effort on the part of some legislators to undermine the role of the state’s Attorney General," she said.

Those legislators who voted for this bill would be wise to remember that the people elect their Attorneys General and their Governors and this legislation– will have dramatic and disastrous impact on the state of Michigan and its residents for years to come. The Attorney General-elect stands in opposition to this legislation.”