Readers of this newsletter still have an opportunity to contact their respective State Representatives and Senators in order to express their opposition or support for controversial legislation that is pending further action in Michigan’s state legislature.
Legislation introduced in both the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives would act to effectively strip local units of governments of the ability to regulate short-term rentals within their respective communities. Introduced by Representative Sarah Lightner, R-Springport, and Senator Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, House Bill 4722 and Senate Bill 446 would act to amend the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act to allow short-term rentals to be zoned as residential-use without the need to obtain a special-use permit from the local planning and zoning commission. The legislation would, however, allow local units of governments to maintain their capacity to regulate short-term rentals in regards, for example, to establishing the maximum number of occupants that would be permitted within a particular residence.
Sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, if passed into law, this legislation would effectively end the ability of local units of government to approve or disapprove permits for gravel and sand mining operations within their jurisdictions. Passed in the Senate by a narrow margin in early June, Senate Bills 429, 430, and 431 would act in unison to transfer the sole authority to issue permits for sand and gravel mining operations to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Comparable legislation introduced in the Michigan House of Representative as House Bill 5979 has not yet received a vote.
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