State Rep. Greg Alexander on Tuesday voted to provide real relief for workers and families across the Thumb region by reversing a previous Democrat income tax hike.

“As budgets remain tight for many people in Michigan, it doesn’t make any sense to them to see state government reaching out for more taxpayer dollars to cover its own budget and its own out-of-control spending,” said Alexander, of Carsonville. “Unfortunately, that is what has been happening. This vote is a needed course correction. It’s past time to get more of people’s hard-earned money back in their pockets.”

House Bill 4170 will lower the state income tax rate to 4.05% as of Jan. 1, 2025, ensuring that Michigan taxpayers keep more than $700 million of their hard-earned income each year. Because of large state revenue growth that exceeded inflation, an existing law had automatically lowered the rate to 4.05% from 4.25%. However, state Attorney General Dana Nessel declared that this reduction was only temporary, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pressed forward with the higher tax rate to help balance her budget plans.

HB 4170 reinforces the 2015 law intended to trigger the automatic income tax reduction, preventing future administrations from undermining permanent tax relief as the Whitmer administration did in 2024. The nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency has previously observed that the reduction should be permanent.

In January, state budget experts projected that Michigan would collect $850 million more in revenue than previously anticipated — more than enough to cover the proposed tax cut.

“When you look at other states that we are constantly competing with for jobs and residents, data has shown states that are growing have lower income taxes,” Alexander said. “This plan will help people and their families as they see high costs for everyday expenditures and make both our region and state an even better place to live and work.”

HB 4170 now advances to the Senate for further consideration.