Bill > SB0282

This bill establishes the "Tenants Right to Organize Act", which provides legal protections for tenants to form and operate tenant unions in residential rental properties. The bill defines key terms such as "tenant union" as an organized group of tenants with rights to self-organize, meet, assist each other, and collectively engage with landlords. Tenants can distribute literature in common areas, hold meetings, collect dues, and engage tenant organizers to help form unions. Critically, the bill prohibits landlords from interfering with, threatening, or retaliating against tenants who exercise these rights, with potential penalties including civil fines up to $1,000 per violation, injunctive orders, and attorney fees. Tenant organizers are specifically allowed to canvass in multi-family rental properties under certain conditions, such as having a written policy allowing outside parties or being accompanied by a tenant. The bill aims to empower tenants by providing a legal framework for collective action and protecting them from potential landlord retaliation, essentially extending collective bargaining-like rights to residential tenants. The law would be enforced through actions brought by the attorney general, tenants, or tenant organizers in courts of competent jurisdiction.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-SB-0282