Staying Steady Amid the Shake-Ups: A Government Affairs Update for 2026

As we enter 2026, the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association is proud to be your voice here in Lansing. Right now, I can tell you that the talk of the town is a certain date: November 3, 2026.
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This year is a key election year for Michigan. After an eight-year run, Governor Gretchen Whitmer is now term-limited, and Michigan voters will elect a new head of government, potentially shaking up the political landscape in the state for years to come. But other candidates will vie for positions in the Michigan legislature and beyond. These races can have significant impacts on the business climate in Michigan, and the MRLA is laser-focused on supporting candidates who have the best interests of the hospitality industry.  
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​Throughout the year, the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association will thoroughly research candidates, providing candidates with a detailed questionnaire about their stances on the issues that matter to our industry, and we will back candidates who will get results for you in Lansing. Expect more to come in the lead-up to the primary elections in August and the final election in November.
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However, in election years, the lawmaking process often slows down as elected officials split their time between campaigning and legislating. As far as the MRLA is concerned, this isn’t an excuse to take the foot off the accelerator. We will not allow an abbreviated legislative session to deter us from pursuing a full legislative agenda and go full-speed-ahead as we advocate for your business. 

Here are the issues we have in our focus in 2026: 

• Pure Michigan Funding: Every year, government officials in Lansing craft a budget for the state in what’s called the appropriations process. Adequate funding for Pure Michigan, an award-winning, money-making tourism campaign promoting our state as a primer tourist destination, was not achieved last year. This year, on the 20th anniversary of Pure Michigan, funding is critically important. The MRLA looks forward to continuing to lead on this issue with the Michigan Hospitality & Tourism Alliance, providing a unified voice for hospitality businesses and state tourism organizations across the state. 
• Career Training Opportunities: The MRLA continues to advocate for vital resources to support the Hospitality and Tourism Management and ProStart programs hosted by the Michigan Hospitality Foundation. These lifechanging programs train Michigan’s students with the tools and experiences they need to succeed as culinary innovators, professional leaders, and hospitality stars, all while connecting them with an opportunity-filled career in Michigan’s hospitality industry. 
• Short-Term Rental Regulation Reform: Our priorities have not changed. We will continue to advocate for tax parity by requiring short-term rentals to participate in current lodging taxes. At the very least, 50% of the revenue raised from this tax should go straight to Pure Michigan, helping to fund tourism promotion in Michigan. Additionally, any legislation that regulates STRs needs a reasonable registry system so that local municipalities can properly collect and remit taxes. Lastly, local municipalities must be empowered to enact reasonable zoning restrictions on where STRs can be placed to protect the uniqueness of each community and neighborhood.

​As an industry and as a team at the MRLA, we believe in digging in when the going gets tough. For over 100 years, the MRLA has been proud to be the voice for an industry known for its resilience, creativity, and sheer grit – the hospitality industry doesn’t quit and neither do we.