Temporary Workers Can Stay At Campgrounds Longer Under House Bill

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 03/10/2026) Individuals staying at campgrounds don't have to leave after 180 days, as is the current requirement, if there's a local housing shortage, a workforce shortage, or a recent state of emergency, under legislation that passed the House Tuesday, 89-18.

Rep. Rachelle Smit (R-Shelbyville)'s HB 5430 was prompted by the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) interpreting “temporary” campground stays as 180 days or less, forcing some campers to leave even when they had nowhere else to go. In some cases, this is impacting workers who are truly staying in an area temporarily, such as utility crews or traveling nurses.

“By expanding this definition and not allowing EGLE to implement its arbitrary rules, we can help solve the housing problem in our state,” Smit told a House committee earlier this year.

Reps. Gregory Alexander (R-Carsonville), Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield), Julie Brixie (D-Okemos), Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers), Brenda Carter (D-Pontiac), James DeSana (R-Carleton), Emily Dievendorf (D-Lansing), Kimberly Edwards (D-Eastpointe), Jaime Greene (R-Richmond), Peter Herzberg (D-Westland), Mike Hoadley (R-Au Gres), Kara Hope (D-Holt), Matt Maddock (R-Milford), Reggie Miller (D-Belleville), Tonya Myers Phillips (D-Detroit), Veronica Paiz (D-Harper Woods), Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) and Donni Steele (R-Lake Orion) voted against the bill.

Dievendorf said the original version offered a broader way to address housing shortages and that the final legislation was a “missed opportunity” to better utilize existing spaces for temporary shelter.

The original bill allowed a local government to identify a local housing emergency based on Census data or other federal data that shows a rental vacancy rate that is below 5% or the median gross rent exceeds 30% of the median household income.

“I think it's important to note that the legislation in its original form still left the decision up to the local governments and our campgrounds,” Dievendorf said.

As part of a four-hour session, the House first passed HB 4949, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Wortz (R-Quincy), on a 56-51 party-line vote. The bill expands liability protections for sport shooting ranges, shielding owners, operators and users from civil lawsuits or criminal prosecution tied to noise complaints when ranges follow generally accepted operating practices.

The legislation would also ensure those protections remain in place even if ranges undergo upgrades or expansions, including safety improvements or ecological updates, so long as the facilities continue to comply with accepted operational standards.

The House also approved a two-bill package aimed at cracking down on cargo theft. HB 5125 passed 87-20 and would allow courts to impose an additional prison term of up to 10 years for individuals convicted of stealing commercial cargo shipments.

HB 5126 passed 86-21, updating Michigan's sentencing guidelines to reflect the new cargo theft offense created under the package.