My Local Roads Bill: Gaining Traction

This week, I’m pleased to announce the growing support for HB 4597, my policy to restore the ability for local residents to work directly with local township officials and local law enforcement to set speed local road limits that are practical, safe, and tailored to the unique conditions of local roads in their community. I’m especially honored to have the support of Oakland Township Supervisor Robin Buxar on this initiative. We released a joint statement last week to further amplify the need to adopt this policy as soon as possible. Click here to view it for yourself. I’m encouraged by the increasing number of residents across our area who are rallying behind this common-sense legislation.

Local Control Can Foster Safer Roads

In Northern Oakland and Macomb Counties, many of our dirt roads were built decades ago for light, local traffic. Today, these same roads bear the burden of much heavier use—and too often, families living nearby are confronted with reckless driving that endangers children, pedestrians, and cyclists.

The system for setting speed limits is failing our communities.

Currently, speed limits are typically determined by the Michigan State Police using “speed studies” that rely on how fast 85% of drivers already travel. While road conditions are often taken into consideration, the state is not always the best judge of what is truly best for a local community. Township officials are far better equipped to assess roadway features, residential density, accident reports, crash history, pedestrian traffic, environmental factors, school zones, and other variables that impact public safety.

Fortunately, Michigan’s Constitution (Article VII, Section 29) gives townships the right to exercise “reasonable control” over their highways, streets, alleys, and public places. But in practice, changes often take six to twelve months due to statutory red tape. That’s why reforms to the entire process are needed…right now!

House Bill 4597: A Legitimate Solution

Introduced with support from 9 State Representatives (Republican and Democrat), HB 4597 restores local authority where it belongs: in the hands of the people who live, work, and raise families here. My bill does the following:

• Transfers final authority for setting speed limits from the Michigan State Police to local governing bodies (excluding state highways and freeways).
• Preserves State Level guidelines as advisory—optional, not binding—recommendations.
• Requires approval from local law enforcement, ensuring decisions reflect public safety priorities.
• Applies to speed limits for roads that fall within the jurisdiction of local units of government.

This legislation doesn’t just empower local officials—it allows the option to respond to real-world safety issues with less red tape.

This bill is a practical means to can align with Article VII, Section 29 of the Michigan Constitution. I deeply appreciate the steadfast support of Oakland Township Supervisor Robin Buxar, along with the growing number of residents backing this much-needed policy change.

If this is something you’d like to help get signed into law, click here to share your support with members of the Michigan House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and ask for passage this coming Fall!

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In God We Trust,

Representative Josh Schriver