Michigan townships are one step closer to initiating a name change if approved by voters.
State Representative David Martin de Davison led Michigan House in approving a bill that would give townships the same power as towns and villages in Michigan.
SEE ALSO: Flint Township Seeks to Change Name to Distance itself from Flint
Martin, a Republican, said in a press release that townships should be given the option to seek approval from residents in order to change township charters.
“Simply put, the law is not fair,†Martin said. “If a municipality wants to change its name and the majority of voters in the community approve, there is absolutely no reason for the state to prevent it. “
Martin noted that there are many duplicate township names in Michigan. For example, “Township of Gaines” is a name used by the townships of Genesee County and Kent County in the western part of Michigan. In fact, 28% of Michigan townships share a name with another township in the state.
SEE ALSO: Man dies at Gaines Township baby shower after explosion
Martin’s legislation, House Bill 4637, would allow a township to change its name if a township’s board of directors approves the measure by a two-thirds majority. The resolution is then expected to be approved by a majority of township voters in a regular election in August or November.
The measure has received overwhelming bipartisan support in the House and will now go to the Michigan State Senate for further consideration.
40 Michigan cities with names even longtime Michiganders can’t pronounce
Beware of these 50 jobs that could disappear in the next 50 years
