Gretchen Whitmer Signs Bills to Expand Michigan Affordable Housing

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a series of bipartisan housing bills on July 22, 2026, aimed at reducing construction barriers and increasing the availability of affordable homes. The legislation establishes the Michigan Housing Opportunity Tax Credit, which will allocate up to $42 million annually to support roughly 2,500 new low-income housing units. The House Fiscal Agency estimates these credits could cost the state up to $252 million over six years.

To lower construction costs, the package includes House Bill 5570, which updates building codes to allow residential buildings up to four stories to be constructed with a single staircase. Additionally, Whitmer signed House Bill 6074, which prohibits institutional investors from purchasing additional single-family homes if they already own at least 100 properties in Michigan with a net value of $375 million or more. Violators face civil fines of up to $25,000 per home, though exceptions exist for approved brownfield redevelopment plans.

This ban mirrors federal restrictions enacted by President Donald Trump under the 21st Century Road to Housing Act. While some lawmakers view the measure as a necessary preemptive strike against corporate ownership, others, including officials at the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, suggest that institutional investment is not as significant a problem in Michigan as it is in other states. Further zoning reforms to allow duplexes and carriage houses remain pending due to opposition from local governments.