LANSING, Mich., Jan. 14, 2025 — State Rep. Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) introduced House Bill 4009 this week to repeal the 1988 ban on local municipalities’ freedom to implement rent stabilization policies. This bill restores local control by allowing local governments the freedom to choose what is best for their communities. The bill does not require any municipality to implement a rent stabilization policy, such as rent control or rent caps.
“Renters in cities like Ann Arbor are forced to pay at least half their income on rent,” Rheingans said. “This is an unsustainable model of growth for Michigan’s big cities and disincentivizes talented, hardworking individuals from living in them. This can create a shortage of essential workers such as teachers, nurses, and emergency response workers who are being priced out. This legislation would give power back to local governments to decide what works best for their communities and residents.”
This legislation is a reintroduction of House Bill 4947, which Rheingans introduced in September 2023 after feedback from constituents.
“Rent stabilization has long been a priority of mine,” Rheingans said. “Michigan is in a housing crisis, and we need to take action now to help the over one million renters in our state keep a roof over their heads. One thing we can do now is return local control to municipalities to determine what kind of rent stabilization would work best in their communities. I know this will only take a bite out of the apple. Obviously, we need to do much more on the issue, including building more housing of all types. This is a shorter-term action we can take to help the over one million renters in our state, while also enacting policies to address the longer-term housing crisis.”
###