Sen. Sarah Anthony delivers testimony in support of her bill package to establish Renters’ Rights in Michigan and Empower Tenants with the tools needed to advocate for their rights
LANSING, Mich (June 04, 2025) — Yesterday, the Senate Housing and Human Services Committee held a hearing on Sen. Sarah Anthony‘s (D-Lansing) Tenant Empowerment Package (Senate Bills 19–22).
As lead sponsor of the package, Sen. Anthony testified in support of her legislation during the committee hearing, highlighting the current lack of protections for Michigan renters and how her legislation will rectify the issue. In Lansing alone, over 700 homes have been red-tagged, deemed uninhabitable due to dangerous conditions. This issue extends beyond the capital city. According to a University of Michigan analysis, nearly 90% of eviction filings in Detroit during the pandemic came from landlords whose properties were not compliant with the city’s rental ordinance.
“Yesterday, we heard real stories from renters across Michigan,” said Sen. Anthony. “Stories of families pushed out of their homes, seniors ignored, and tenants living in unsafe conditions due to no fault of their own. Their voices are exactly why we’re advancing the Tenant Empowerment package. It’s time our laws reflect the realities renters face. It’s time we give tenants the tools they need to advocate for safe, stable housing. And it’s time we make Michigan a place where renters are protected, not left behind.”
The Tenant Empowerment Package is designed to protect tenants, providing them with the tools they need to advocate for their rights by:
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Enshrining tenants’ Right to Repair into law by giving tenants the ability to remedy any unsafe conditions within their own homes if landlords fail to begin repairs in an appropriate timeframe;
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Ensuring adequate notice for rent increases to give people time to plan, budget, and prepare; and
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Allowing the electronic return of tenant security deposits to modernize this process for landlords and tenants alike.
Following a vote by the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, Senate Bills 19-22 will advance to the Senate floor for further consideration.