(The Center Square) – Michigan House Republicans are advancing a sweeping plan they say will lower housing costs and ease financial pressure on homeowners, as affordability remains a growing concern across the nation.
The package, dubbed HELP UP – short for House plan to Effectively Lower Property Taxes & Utility Payments – includes a series of bills aimed at cutting property taxes, reducing energy costs and removing barriers to homeownership.
State Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton Township, is helping lead the effort, which includes legislation to eliminate what she calls a “pop-up tax” that can increase a home’s taxable value after it is sold.
“Right now, families can do everything right, buy a home, plan their budget, and then get hit with a massive tax increase the very next year,” Bollin said. “That’s not fair, and it’s not sustainable.”
Her proposal, House Bill 5872 and House Joint Resolution T, would instead cap increases in taxable value so they rise gradually, rather than resetting based on a home’s sale price.
The broader plan would eliminate the state portion of property taxes, which supporters say would save the average homeowner about $900 annually.
“We’re cutting the costs that hit families the hardest, from property taxes to energy bills to the hidden fees that make homeownership harder to reach,” said Bollin. “These are meaningful, lasting changes that will make a real difference and give people some breathing room in their monthly budgets.”
The proposal includes protections to ensure school funding is not reduced.
Republicans have also proposed eliminating the real estate transfer tax, which they say would save buyers of an average Michigan home roughly $2,250 in upfront costs.
In addition to housing-related costs, the plan seeks to reduce utility bills. By eliminating personal property taxes, lawmakers argue energy providers would face lower costs, paired with a required $1 billion rate rollback intended to pass savings on to customers.
“By combining this reform with broader tax relief and lower costs across the board, we are making Michigan a more affordable place to live, work, and raise a family,” Bollin said.
The legislation comes as Michigan lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have proposed different approaches to tackling housing affordability, which has worsened in recent years due to limited supply and rising costs.
A separate bipartisan effort known as the Housing Readiness Package focuses on increasing housing supply by making it easier to build new homes. The proposal, which has been previously reported on by The Center Square, would update zoning laws, allow duplexes in certain single-family zones and streamline approval processes.
Supporters of that plan argue regulatory costs and delays have contributed significantly to rising home prices, while critics have raised concerns about limiting local control.
“The bipartisan Housing Readiness Package modernizes our development processes to reduce unnecessary costs and delays, making housing more affordable and available across the state,” said state Rep. Kristian Grant, D-Grand Rapids. “This is about ensuring Michigan is prepared for growth and that more residents have access to safe, stable homes.”
While receiving bipartisan support from both the Republican-led state House and Democrat-led state Senate, it is unclear if this housing initiative will be more successful than a similar one which stalled in 2024. Similarly, the HELP UP plan has yet to move out of committee.
