Legislative Priorities

2022 Legislative Priorities

Providing business a voice in government, the Detroit Regional Chamber continues to advocate for policy outcomes and emerging issues that are critical to the economy and impact its members across the business community.

Working with elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels of government, the Chamber is one of the most respected business organizations and chambers of commerce in the country. It supports policies that will drive economic growth and development throughout southeast Michigan.

The Chamber’s top legislative priorities in 2022 include:

expanding education and talent
securing Michigan’s global automotive leadership
advancing racial justice and economic equity, and
supporting democratic norms.

These priorities are critical as the state and country look to accelerate economic growth while navigating and emerging from the COVID pandemic.

Education and Talent

Implement Launch Michigan K-12 reform recommendations (upon agreement).
Partner with state on policies that contribute to the Chamber’s goal to achieve 60% postsecondary education attainment and reduce the racial equity gap in education outcomes by half by 2030.
Secure state support to ease the financial burden of accessing postsecondary education and accountability measures to improve college graduation rates.
Establish programs with proven track records to increase college completion in traditional students and adults.

Support Democratic Norms

Customer-centric improvements to improve voting access and security while opposing reform legislation without bipartisan support.
Reforms, practices, elected officials, and approaches that enhance civility and bipartisanship in the public square.

Local and Regional

Prioritize regional road, bridge, port, and underground utility infrastructure.
Improve transit assets, focusing on high-volume cross-region corridors, while continuing to push for comprehensive and coordinated regional transit.
Modernize and harness the cannabis industry in balance with maintaining employer freedoms.
Encourage efficient, cost-effective local government, including the sharing of best practices and smart sharing of services across jurisdictions.

Racial Justice and Economic Equity

Policies, such as the earned income tax credit and education access programs, that achieve a rising income for all and a reduction in the ALICE rate.
Additional criminal justice reforms that pave the way for returning citizens back into society.
Policies that acknowledge and address health disparities, especially those exacerbated by the pandemic.
Policies to support small businesses – especially Black- and people of color-owned businesses – disproportionally impacted by the pandemic.
Reduce the racial equity gap in education outcomes by half.

MICHauto: Automotive and Mobility-Centric

Public-private partnerships (including state financial support) to aggressively fill the talent needs and gaps at all levels in the automotive and mobility industry.
Build Michigan’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure to accommodate the generational shift.
State and federal policies that support efficient and cost- effective manufacturing.
State and federal policies that support a robust and resilient global supply chain.
Enact distracted driving legislation requiring hands-free devices.

Other Statewide Priorities

Sustainable and predictable investment into 21st century infrastructure focused on long-term competitiveness.
Tax, regulatory, and economic development policies that ensure Michigan’s long-term global competitiveness, especially in key industry sectors and the small business segment.
Energy policies that ensure affordable and reliable power while modernizing energy infrastructure and improving Michigan’s renewable portfolio.
Policies that increase health insurance access while opposing mandates that drive costs for employers and families.