LANSING — Today, the House passed House Bills 5955-5965, bills that would prohibit local communities from establishing their own standards for occupational licensing. In response, state Rep. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) issued the following statement:

“Prior to today, approximately 54 bills have been introduced since 2013 that erode local control. Today’s set of 11 bills to prohibit local units of government from imposing licensing requirements on specific occupations brings that number to 65. Prohibiting local government from doing its job is not the role of state government. Pre-emption bills like these prevent locally elected leaders from serving their people and communities best. Lansing has no business creating yet more pre-emptive language for local units of government and prohibiting local elected leaders from enacting ordinances, regulations, resolutions and policies for their communities. This Legislature’s continual infringement upon the power of local government to make the decisions they believe serve their communities best is disrespectful and short-sighted.”