Housing (Homeownership)

This bill creates the MI Home Program Act to increase housing supply and affordability in Michigan by establishing new state funds and programs for grants, loans, and assistance. It defines specific categories of eligible applicants and developers, including local governments, nonprofits, and individuals, while allowing qualified zoning changes that reduce parking requirements, permit smaller homes, and encourage denser development near transit. The legislation empowers the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to administer these programs and distribute money to support the construction, rehabilitation, and rental of residential properties for income-qualified households.

SB 192 creates a partial property tax exemption for Michigan homeowners aged 63+ who have lived in their primary residence as their main home for at least 10 years, or homeowners of any age who have lived there continuously for 30 years. It applies to households with total gross income under $40,000 annually. The exemption amount equals the current taxable value minus a "base amount" established in the year the homeowner first qualifies. This bill directly affects low-income senior homeowners meeting specific residency and income criteria, freezing their tax burden relative to a base year value.

HB 4983 modifies Michigan's eviction timeline by extending the waiting period before a landlord can remove a tenant after a court judgment. It increases the standard waiting period from 10 to 14 days for most evictions, and adds a longer 90-day or 6-month waiting period (depending on payment progress) when evicting tenants who failed to pay for a home purchase contract. The bill also clarifies that tenants can stop eviction by paying the owed amount plus costs within the waiting period. This directly affects tenants facing eviction and landlords seeking possession under the Revised Judicature Act.

HB 4540 amends Michigan's Housing and Community Development Fund to expand eligible uses of the funds. It allows the state housing authority to provide grants, loans, or assistance for housing projects targeting low-, very low-, and middle-income households, including new construction, rehabilitation, foreclosure prevention, and predatory lending relief. The bill specifically adds support for "individual development accounts" (for savings programs) and community development projects like blight elimination. It affects housing providers, nonprofits, and residents in targeted income groups by clarifying how existing state funds can be allocated to address housing needs.

HB 4041 would automatically renew property tax exemptions for eligible homeowners who previously qualified under the poverty exemption program, eliminating the need for them to reapply annually. It directly affects low-income homeowners in Michigan who have already established eligibility for the exemption under current law. The bill amends Michigan law to require automatic continuation of this exemption in specified circumstances, reducing administrative burdens for qualifying residents. This change streamlines the process by removing annual application requirements for those already verified as eligible.