Bill > HB4991

This bill amends Michigan's Revised Judicature Act to enhance protections for tenants against unlawful evictions by increasing potential damages and expanding the definition of unlawful interference with a tenant's possessory interest. The bill raises the minimum statutory damages from $200 to $2,000 or $200 per day for ongoing unlawful conduct, and introduces a new provision for exemplary damages that can be awarded by a judge or jury under specific circumstances, such as violation of a court order, prolonged interference, or a repeated pattern of misconduct. The bill also adds new grounds for what constitutes unlawful interference, including a specific violation of another legal section, and allows for additional civil fines of up to 10% of exemplary damages if the defendant's conduct is deemed egregious. The new provisions aim to provide stronger legal remedies for tenants who are improperly evicted or whose living situation is disrupted by a landlord's actions, with the potential monetary penalties serving as a deterrent against improper eviction practices. The bill will only take effect if a companion bill (House Bill 4985) is also enacted into law.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-4991