State Governors Sign Separate Legislation on Housing and Taxes

In two separate state-level actions, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed housing legislation on July 21, 2026, and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed tax legislation on May 11, 2026. In Michigan, Whitmer signed House Bills 5570 and 5571, which amend the state's construction code to permit residential buildings up to four stories with a single staircase, an increase from the previous three-story limit. In Georgia, Kemp signed House Bill 463, which lowers the state income tax rate from 5.19% to 4.99% effective January 1, 2026, and includes provisions for further annual reductions as well as increases to the standard deduction. Both pieces of legislation were reported through official government sources—the Michigan governor's office and the Georgia governor's office—with limited independent corroboration available in the supplied reporting. According to the Michigan governor's office, the housing bill is tied to a $250 million annual investment intended to produce or preserve up to 3,000 affordable apartments per year, and the effort was described as bipartisan with support from industry groups including the Michigan Housing Council. In Georgia, Speaker of the House Jon Burns characterized the tax bill as providing relief that allows taxpayers to retain more income, though the specific fiscal impact on state revenue was not detailed in available reporting. Because both events are documented only through single-source official government releases, corroborating figures such as the precise scope of Michigan's affordable housing investment and the long-term fiscal effects of Georgia's tax reduction remain unverified by independent reporting. No opposition statements, legislative vote counts, or effective dates for the Michigan construction code changes were included in the available material. Further reporting would be needed to confirm implementation timelines and assess outcomes of both measures.