Leadership Profiles: House Minority Leader Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.)

Rep. Matt Hall is serving his third term as a state representative from Southwest Michigan. He lives in Richland Township and represents the 42nd House District, which includes portions of Kalamazoo and Allegan counties.

After graduating with honors from Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business, Hall earned a Juris Doctor from WSU-Cooley Law School. He is a constitutional law attorney and served as the West Michigan liaison for the Michigan Attorney General. He has also worked in the private sector for a combat vehicle propulsion manufacturer.

He took office in 2019. In his first term, he chaired the House Oversight Committee. He also served as chair of the Joint Select Committee on the Covid-19 pandemic. His leadership on those committees earned him the recognition of the Michigan Information & Research Service (MIRS), a Capitol news outlet that named him 2020 House member of the year.

During his second term, Hall also presided over the House Tax Policy Committee. Republicans that term elected him Republican caucus chair. His colleagues elected him House Republican leader for the 2023-2024 term.

What is the biggest challenge facing Michigan?

The rising cost of living is a huge challenge for everyone in our state. The first plan House Republicans proposed this year will provide tax relief to Michiganders and help employers find workers. Our plan ensures an immediate increase to the Earned Income Tax Credit for working families. We are also calling for timely, fair relief for Michigan seniors and defending an automatic income tax cut that is expected to kick in this year for everyone.

What is your top priority for this legislative session?

Michigan has come a long way since the Lost Decade when people fled our state’s sinking economy. My top priority is protecting and building on the wins of the last 12 years, when the House Republican majority led our state forward. If our state is serious about economic development, we need to protect Right to Work, which empowers Michigan workers. I’ll work to protect local businesses from unreasonable, overzealous regulations proposed by Democrats.

What is the key to accelerating economic growth in Michigan?

Growing Michigan’s economy and making life more affordable for everyone will take an all-encompassing strategy. We need to keep making Michigan more competitive to bring the high-paying careers of the future to our state. We must continue to work smartly to land new engineering and manufacturing facilities in the state, through preparing shovel-ready sites and investing in the future. Programs such as Michigan Reconnect, which has helped Michiganders earn associate degrees and skilled trades certificates, are crucial.