Beyond the Bill: Rep. Jerry Neyer (R-Shepherd) 

Beyond the Bill is a rotating segment that features a Republican or Democrat Michigan Legislator for Chamber members to get to know on a more personal level and highlight their legislative priorities for Michiganders.

Michigan Rep. Jerry Neyer (R-Shepherd) is serving his second term representing Michigan’s 92nd House District, which includes portions of Gratiot and Isabella Counties. Before being elected to the House, Neyer spent more than 20 years serving on the Isabella County Farm Bureau, the Michigan Dairy Marketing Committee, and the Isabella County Planning Commission. He has also spent the last 30 years working at his family’s dairy farm, which has roughly 150 cows. 

Neyer currently serves as the Chair of the House Agriculture Committee and is a member of the Insurance, Regulatory Reform, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.

Neyer identified regulatory reform for state departments as a top priority, raising concerns about delays and inconsistency in permitting processes. 

“Right now, people across Michigan are waiting for EGLE permits that have been delayed, denied, strung out, and forgotten for months to years,” Neyer said. He added that MDARD and the DNR face “similar issues,” describing what should be routine approvals as having turned into “a guessing game.” 

To address these challenges, Neyer pointed to ongoing legislative efforts focused on permit timelines and clearer agency guidance.  

“My colleagues and I have worked on boilerplate language to address permit shot-clocks and guidebooks,” he said, also mentioning broader bill packages to improve rulemaking and departmental operations. 

Neyer also emphasized legal reform as a critical economic issue, highlighting his sponsorship of House Bill 4582. The legislation seeks to reinstate Michigan’s “open-and-obvious” doctrine, which he argues previously allowed courts to efficiently dismiss meritless claims. 

“For more than two decades, this rule gave judges a clear standard,” Neyer said. “Now, cases that would have been dismissed are going all the way to trial.” He warned that the shift has contributed to rising costs for employers, noting that “small business owners are watching their liability insurance premiums double and triple.” 

At the district level, Neyer pointed to broader concerns about the cost and unpredictability of doing business. He described “the hidden costs of doing business and the unpredictability of state and local governments” as a challenge that deserves more attention statewide. This ties closely to his regulatory reform efforts, reinforcing his view that greater consistency and transparency in government decision-making are key to supporting economic growth.

To strengthen the automotive sector, Neyer emphasized the importance of enforcing Michigan’s workforce pipeline through skilled trades and career-focused education pathways. 

“The strongest pipeline runs through community colleges and skilled-trades programs working directly with suppliers,” he said, pointing to programs that are already training welders, machinists, and technicians needed in today’s economy. He added that “state policy should make those partnerships easier to fund and faster to stand up.” 

Neyer also stressed the need to rethink how students are guided toward career pathways as the biggest opportunity to strengthen Michigan’s talent pipeline. “We need to stop treating the four-year degree as the only path,” he said, emphasizing the importance of apprenticeships, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and programs like Going PRO. 

He further advocated for expanding access and awareness of these opportunities, noting the importance of reaching students early: “We need to fund those alternative routes on par with traditional colleges and make sure students know about them before they sign a FAFSA loan for $120,000.” 

When reflecting on personal influences, Neyer shared advice from his father, Dave Neyer, that continues to shape his approach to relationships and leadership: “Be careful who you piss off; you may need their help in the future.” 

Outside of his legislative work in Lansing, Neyer highlighted The Shepherd Bar, located in the Village of Shepard, as his favorite local destination, describing it as offering “great food, service, and hometown atmosphere.”