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State Representative Matthew Bierlein has openly criticized legislative Democrats, claiming they have imposed a new regulation on Michigan residents that will exacerbate the state's housing affordability issues. The recent session of the bipartisan, bicameral Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) failed to pass updated rules for the state's building and electrical codes. Five Democrat legislators from the 10-member committee did not attend the hearing, which was the last chance to implement energy-efficient regulations aimed at keeping costs low for residents.

“Unfortunately, this follows a clear pattern over the last several months of Democrats in Lansing not addressing real priorities people in our state have,” said Bierlein, from Vassar. He cited a past legislative term where Democrats didn't act to preserve the tip credit for service industry workers or enact measures to support small businesses. Bierlein noted that Republicans in the House prioritized these issues in the new term and reached a compromise that became law. He criticized Democrats for neglecting affordability concerns while pushing environmental agendas.

According to Bierlein, ongoing regulations could add thousands of dollars to the cost of new home construction. This increase, he said, would ultimately affect homebuyers, making Michigan less appealing for workers and families.

The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) initiated an update to the state's construction codes in 2021, focusing on energy efficiency. The Home Builders Association of Michigan (HBAM) expressed apprehension about these changes, advocating for recent code updates that could better manage utility and construction costs.

“I’m very disappointed that a governor, who has done much to promote the need for more housing, is now poised to add some $15,000 to the cost of each new home,” commented HBAM CEO Bob Filka. He noted the ongoing housing affordability crisis and other economic challenges, criticizing the JCAR for not replacing the 2021 code with the 2024 model, which would benefit the environment.