Dear members, friends, and supporters,

 

Thank you for your continued opposition to HB 5232 (and SB 720), and very special thanks to the advocates in Michigan House District 107—Emmet, Mackinac, Chippewa, and Cheboygan Counties. As you know, in January, HB 5232 was assigned to the Local Government Committee, chaired by Rep. Lee Chatfield (House District 107). Representative Chatfield has confirmed in a letter to constituents that although he worked “exceedingly hard to strike a balance with this legislation, …I have been unable to adequately satisfy many of the concerns of my constituents.” He has decided to “indefinitely suspend consideration of HB 5232 and the conversation of reform to the Michigan Historic Preservation Act.”

 

Thank you, advocates on Mackinac Island, in Harbor Springs, and elsewhere in Michigan’s 107th House District! This is a big victory for historic preservation in Michigan, but we all need to remain cautious and vigilant.  HB 5232 will not be on the Local Government committee agenda anytime soon, but the bill may be reassigned to another committee and we may need to activate quickly all over again. Thanks to each and every one of you all over the state who has spoken and written against this bill, and as we hear more information, we will definitely share it with all of you. Congratulations and thank you!

 

--MHPN Staff--