HB 5355, the "Michigan Fair Chance Access to Housing Act," prohibits landlords from requiring or considering an applicant's criminal record during initial rental screening. Landlords must issue a conditional offer after checking income, credit, or rental history, then may only consider specific serious offenses (like arson, human trafficking, or sex offenses requiring registration) or recent felonies within 3 years after a conditional offer is made. Landlords must disclose if they consider criminal records and allow applicants to submit evidence of rehabilitation or mitigating factors before denying housing. This bill directly affects landlords across Michigan and rental applicants with criminal records, aiming to reduce barriers to housing based solely on past convictions.
SB 738, the "Michigan Fair Chance Access to Housing Act," prohibits landlords from asking about or denying rental applications based solely on an applicant's criminal record before issuing a conditional offer. It directly affects renters with criminal histories and requires landlords to provide written notice about criminal record screening before collecting application fees. Key provisions include banning pre-offer inquiries into criminal history (except for federal requirements), allowing landlords to consider only specific serious offenses (like arson, human trafficking, or recent sex offenses requiring registration) after a conditional offer, and mandating an individualized assessment with mitigating evidence for denials. Landlords must also disclose if criminal records are part of their screening process.
SB 22 requires Michigan landlords to return security deposit refunds via electronic transfer (such as direct deposit or mobile payment) instead of checks when deducting for damages. Landlords must send the refund electronically within 10 days after mailing a damage notice to the tenant, which must include a 7-day response deadline. This affects all landlords and tenants in Michigan rental agreements involving security deposits. The law maintains existing requirements for 30-day damage notices and itemized claims but changes how refunds are delivered.
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 4984 changes how eviction court records are handled in Michigan. For most eviction cases, court records remain private until a judge rules in favor of the landlord, then become public for two years before automatically returning to private status. However, if the eviction was based on serious issues like drug activity, health hazards, violence, or illegal entry, records stay public for three years. The bill also strictly limits sharing private records - allowing access only for research or journalism with court approval, while protecting tenant names and personal details. This directly affects tenants by increasing privacy around eviction history, particularly for non-serious cases.
HB 4992 updates Michigan's landlord-tenant law to clarify communication requirements for security deposits. It requires tenants to provide updated contact information (mailing address, email, or phone) within 4 days after moving out, and landlords must send an itemized damage notice with repair costs within 15 days of move-out. Landlords must use methods tenants previously agreed to (like email or text) to send these notices, and tenants must respond within 7 days to dispute charges - failure to respond forfeits the right to dispute. If landlords miss the 15-day deadline, they must immediately refund the full security deposit. This directly affects all Michigan landlords and tenants in rental agreements involving security deposits.
HB 5034 (Sec. 5707 of Michigan's Revised Judicature Act) allows certain small limited liability companies (LLCs) to be represented by a member - not a lawyer - in eviction court. It applies only to single-member LLCs (where the member is an individual) or two-member LLCs owned by married individuals who jointly sign and file a verified statement authorizing representation. Before a hearing, a court employee must verify the filed statement, and the LLC must prove it meets the eligibility criteria. This provision clarifies that such member representation does not violate existing legal ethics rules (MCL 600.916).
HB 4197 establishes Michigan's "Bill of Rights for the Homeless," creating new legal protections for individuals experiencing homelessness. It guarantees rights including free movement in public spaces, equal access to services and employment (without discrimination over lack of permanent address), emergency medical care, voting access, and privacy protections for records shared with shelters. The bill also allows local governments to create designated "safe outdoor spaces" for encampments and provides legal remedies for violations, such as court orders or damages. It directly affects homeless residents across Michigan, particularly youth aged 13-23, by prohibiting discrimination in public services, housing, and schools. The law takes effect 90 days after enactment.
Senate Bill 282, titled the "Tenants Right to Organize Act," establishes specific rights for tenants in Michigan to form and operate tenant unions. This bill allows tenants to self-organize, meet, distribute information, and confer with their landlords through chosen representatives regarding rental conditions and changes. It also permits tenant organizers to assist in these efforts, including canvassing within rental properties under certain conditions. The bill prohibits landlords from interfering with these organizing activities or retaliating against tenants who exercise these rights, with violations potentially leading to civil fines and other legal remedies.
HB 4009 repeals a 1988 state law (MCL 123.411) that previously prevented local governments in Michigan from establishing rent control policies for residential properties. This bill directly affects cities and counties, giving them the authority to create their own rent control programs if they choose. The key mechanism is simply removing the existing legal barrier, allowing local governments to develop and implement rent control measures without state restrictions. The repeal takes effect 90 days after the bill becomes law.
