LANSING, Mich., June 15, 2022 — Today, the House passed House Bill 4416, which would create the Prohibited Restrictive Covenants Act. It would establish a process for eliminating discriminatory restrictive covenants in property deeds. Although the federal Fair Housing Act has prohibited housing discrimination since 1968, many property deeds nonetheless still contain language discriminating against African-Americans, Jewish-Americans and women, among others. State Rep. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), the sponsor of the bill, and state Rep. Julie Brixie (D-Meridian Township), a cosponsor, issued the following statement on its passage:
“Homeowners across Michigan, including right here in the Capital Area, continue to discover discriminatory language in their deeds. This legislation will empower Michiganders to do the right thing and remove this offensive and illegal language. No one should have to endure holding a deed that discriminates against others. Through our work with the Register of Deeds Association, civil rights organizations and various other local government stakeholders, we have come to believe this will be a powerful tool in preventing the legacy of discrimination from being passed on to a family member or the next homeowner.”