HB 4445 Michigan House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Natural resources: hunting; feeding or baiting deer; allow. Amends secs. 40102 & 40111a of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.40102 & 324.40111a).

House Bill 4445 proposes to allow individuals to use bait for hunting deer in Michigan during the open deer seasons. It amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by introducing a specific definition for "deer or elk baiting," which refers to depositing feed to aid in taking these animals. The bill also eliminates the requirement for the Natural Resources Commission to issue orders regulating general deer and elk feeding, and removes the associated definition from state law. This change would explicitly permit deer baiting for hunting while removing state-level regulation over general deer and elk feeding.

Issues: ✗ Environment

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Governor

Introduced May 6, 2025 Last action Feb 11, 2026

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What changed between versions

House Introduced Bill → As Passed by the House · 4 edits · Feb 4, 2026

MODERATE

This bill updates the definitions of hunting and wildlife terms in Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. The primary changes clarify what constitutes a 'bow' by specifying that the drawing force must come from the archer's muscles, and it reorganizes the definitions for 'deer or elk baiting' and 'deer or elk feeding' to better distinguish between prohibited baiting and permitted agricultural feeding practices.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on defining terms within the state's natural resources act, but the definitions now provide clearer distinctions between prohibited hunting aids and allowed agricultural activities.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'bow' was modified to explicitly state that the force used to hold the string must be provided by the archer's muscles, clarifying the mechanics of legal archery equipment.

New definitions were added for 'buy' or 'sell' and 'chase' to clarify commercial exchanges and the use of animals to follow game.

The definitions for 'deer or elk baiting' and 'deer or elk feeding' were reorganized and modified to clearly separate prohibited baiting from permitted agricultural feeding, including specific exemptions for livestock areas and covered feed storage.

The definition of 'feed' was updated to include a specific exemption for feed that is covered to deter deer or elk from accessing it, preventing such covered feed from being classified as bait.

Floor votes · House Feb 4, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 11, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND AGRICULTURE

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

PASSED BY HOUSE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

passed; given immediate effect Roll Call #25 Yeas 66 Nays 38 Excused 0 Not Voting 6

lower

Dec 17, 2025

Committee

referred to second reading

lower

Dec 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

reported with recommendation without amendment

lower

May 6, 2025

Committee

referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism

lower

May 6, 2025

Introduced

introduced by Representative Rep. Jennifer Wortz

lower

1 primary · 9 co-sponsors