Doug Lloyd Questionnaire Responses

Doug Lloyd (R)

Attorney General Candidate

Small Biz PAC Endorsed

Explore Doug Lloyd’s positions and priorities on issues impacting Michigan’s small business community and the role of the Attorney General’s office.

Learn More About Doug Lloyd

Questionnaire Responses

QUESTION 1: Do you believe the Attorney General’s responsibilities include protecting and supporting Michigan’s small business owners as much as any other citizen?

Yes. Small business owners are the backbone of Michigan’s economy and deserve the same protections under the law as every citizen. The Attorney General’s office should work to ensure a fair legal environment where entrepreneurs can invest, hire, and grow with confidence. Protecting consumers and enforcing the law are important responsibilities, but so is ensuring that small businesses are treated fairly and not subjected to unnecessary regulatory burdens or politically motivated enforcement actions.

QUESTION 2: Do you believe and will you operate your office under the premise that business owners are entitled to a presumption of innocence in the face of allegations and complaints?

Yes. The presumption of innocence is a fundamental principle of our justice system and applies equally to business owners. Allegations and complaints should be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly, but no individual or business should be presumed guilty before the facts are established. As Attorney General, I will ensure that investigations are conducted fairly, professionally, and with respect for due process.

QUESTION 3: Do you believe and will you operate your office such that when reviewing and/or investigating accusations or complaints against small businesses or their owners, it is the burden of the accuser to prove wrongdoing, not the accused to prove their innocence.

Yes. The burden of proof rests with the party making the accusation. The Attorney General’s office should follow the facts and evidence wherever they lead, but it is not the role of government to force citizens or business owners to prove they have done nothing wrong. Maintaining that distinction is essential to protecting constitutional rights and preserving public trust in our legal system.

QUESTION 4: What steps will you take to help small businesses prevent and respond to fraud, identity theft, cyber threats, and scams targeting small businesses?

The Attorney General’s office should serve as both an enforcement agency and a resource for prevention. I would prioritize outreach and education efforts that provide small businesses with practical information about emerging cyber threats, fraud schemes, and identity theft risks. I would also strengthen coordination with law enforcement, industry partners, and cybersecurity experts to identify threats quickly and share information efficiently. When bad actors target Michigan businesses, the Attorney General’s office should aggressively pursue enforcement actions while helping victims navigate recovery and reporting processes.

QUESTION 5: Under a procedural challenge of the Earned Sick Time Act, the current Attorney General worked to invalidate a state law from 2018 creating months of uncertainty and ultimately a damaging resolution for small businesses.

Please describe your philosophy regarding your obligation to support and defend existing law that you are personally opposed to.

The Attorney General’s client is the people of Michigan and the Constitution, not the Attorney General’s personal policy preferences. While there may be limited circumstances where constitutional concerns require independent legal judgment, the general obligation of the office is to defend duly enacted laws and provide consistency and predictability to citizens and businesses alike. Businesses deserve confidence that laws passed through the legislative process will be defended and interpreted based on sound legal principles, not political considerations.

QUESTION 6: The Michigan Consumer Protection Act currently contains exemptions for businesses operating under the regulatory oversight of other state or federal agencies to avoid duplicative litigation and regulatory enforcement. There have been ongoing efforts to judicially and legislatively strip those exemptions, which would open many small businesses up to class-action lawsuits even if they are in full compliance with their primary state regulators.

Do you support maintaining these historical exemptions, or do you believe the Attorney General’s office should have duplicative jurisdiction to pursue consumer protection claims against already state-regulated small business sectors?

I generally support maintaining clear regulatory boundaries that prevent duplicative enforcement and unnecessary litigation. Businesses that are already subject to comprehensive oversight by state or federal regulators should not face overlapping and conflicting enforcement regimes simply because multiple agencies seek jurisdiction over the same conduct. Consumer protection remains important, but regulatory certainty and fairness are also critical. The Attorney General’s office should work cooperatively with existing regulators rather than expanding government authority for its own sake.

QUESTION 7: Attorneys General frequently sign onto headline-grabbing multi-state lawsuits targeting national issues, which can siphon resource focus away from local administrative backlogs or specific Michigan statutes.

When deciding to join multi-state lawsuits or national litigation, how will you weigh the expenditure of Michigan taxpayer resources and AG staff time against the direct, tangible benefits to the citizens and small businesses within our state?

Every decision to join multi-state litigation should be evaluated based on whether it serves the interests of Michigan citizens and businesses. The Attorney General’s office should remain focused on its core responsibilities and use taxpayer resources wisely. I would support participation in national litigation when there is a clear and measurable benefit to Michigan, but I do not believe the office should pursue lawsuits primarily for publicity, political positioning, or national attention. Michigan taxpayers deserve results, not headlines.

QUESTION 8: Independent contractors are a vital part of the small business ecosystem as they are both small businesses themselves and are commonly utilized by small businesses. The legal definition of an employee vs. an independent contractor has become a major battleground. Small businesses across Michigan heavily rely on independent contractors for specialized, flexible work.

Will you commit to protecting the autonomy of independent contracting relationships against restrictive classification tests and the narrowing of classification interpretations?

Yes. Independent contractors play an important role in Michigan’s economy and provide flexibility for both workers and businesses. Legitimate independent contracting relationships should not be undermined through overly restrictive interpretations or regulatory overreach. At the same time, the law should be enforced against intentional misclassification. My approach will be guided by clear statutory language, consistent application of the law, and respect for the freedom of individuals and businesses to structure lawful working relationships that meet their needs.