Key facts
- Michigan housing advocates are using primary election results to push for stalled zoning reform legislation.
- 21 of the 24 cosponsors of the Housing Readiness Package sought reelection, with 17 facing no challenger and the remaining four winning by significant margins.
- Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently signed single-stair reform and a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program into law.
- The broader nine-bill Housing Readiness Package, which aims to preempt local zoning control, remains stalled in committee.
- Local governments are opposing the package, while the homebuilding industry and housing supply advocates support it.
Michigan housing advocates are leveraging the results of the recent primary elections to reignite momentum for stalled zoning reform legislation. A significant majority of state lawmakers who cosponsored the Housing Readiness Package, a nine-bill legislative effort, either faced no primary challenger or won their races by substantial margins, indicating potential voter support for housing reform.
Despite these electoral successes, the Housing Readiness Package itself remains in legislative limbo, stalled in committee. Local governments have voiced strong opposition, concerned about losing zoning authority over issues like lot sizes and permitting. This resistance contrasts with support from segments of the homebuilding industry and advocates focused on increasing housing supply.
In parallel, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has achieved legislative victories on separate housing initiatives. She signed a single-stair reform into law, which allows for less costly construction of smaller apartment buildings, and established Michigan's first Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. This tax credit program, capped at $42 million annually, is expected to generate over 2,500 affordable housing units per year once implemented.
Advocates like Abundant Housing Michigan view the primary results as evidence that supporting housing reform is electorally beneficial. They cite national research suggesting voters reward candidates who champion such measures. However, the fate of the broader zoning package hinges on continued political pressure, as its advancement is not solely dependent on electoral outcomes.