A Michigan judge ruled on Thursday that the state House had the legal requirement to send the nine stalled bills to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's desk but stopped at forcing the House to present them.The ruling from Court of Claims Judge Sima Patel comes weeks after the state Senate filed a lawsuit against the House over the bills.

Judge Sima Patel stopped short of issuing an official order requiring that the Republican-controlled House present the bills.

A Michigan Court of Claims judge ruled Thursday nine stalled bills — passed in the previous legislative session but never presented to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for signature — should have been sent to the governor's desk once Republicans took control of the Michigan House of Representatives early this year.

A judge has declined to force House Republicans to present to the governor nine bills that were passed last session but have been withheld by the chamber. However, Michigan Court of Claims Judge Sima G.