Environment

passed · Michigan · Senate Jun 24, 2025

SR 61: A resolution to recognize June 29-July 5,2025, as Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week.

This symbolic Senate Resolution (SR 61) recognizes June 29-July 5, 2025, as "Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week" in Michigan. It does not create new laws or funding but formally acknowledges the threat invasive species pose to the state's Great Lakes, rivers, and recreational waterways. The resolution aims to raise public awareness about preventing invasive species spread - impacting over 900,000 boaters and Michigan's $1.4 billion water-dependent economy - through coordinated efforts with communities and organizations. As a non-binding resolution, it serves only as a formal recognition, not a policy change.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill recognizes Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week to raise public awareness about preventing invasive species spread, protecting Great Lakes and waterways (natural resources) and supporting conservation efforts.80% confidence

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passed · Michigan · Senate Jun 25, 2025

SR 64: A resolution to condemn the Trump Administration and congressional Republican’s support of the divisive “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that raises costs for Michiganders, slashes Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Women, Infants and Children program (WIC), adds burdensome hurdles to important tax relief measures for low-income households, drives more families into poverty by giving tax cuts to the most wealthy households, and sets back progress on a clean energy future while increasing energy costs on Americans.

This is a Senate resolution (SR 64), not a bill with policy changes. Introduced by Senator Cherry, it formally condemns the Trump Administration and congressional Republicans for supporting the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (referred to sarcastically as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act"). The resolution states it opposes the Act's proposed cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC programs, its tax cuts for wealthy households, and its impact on clean energy initiatives, citing specific Michigan impacts like 2.6 million Medicaid recipients and 1.4 million SNAP users. As a symbolic resolution, it does not change policy but urges Congress to reject the Act and pursue alternative policies.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesResolution explicitly condemns tax cuts for wealthy households and defunding of Medicaid/SNAP/WIC programs, opposing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act's budget/tax policies.95% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyResolution explicitly states Tax Cuts Act 'sets back progress on a clean energy future' and increases energy costs, opposing policies hindering clean energy development.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentResolution explicitly condemns tax bill for 'setting back progress on a clean energy future', indicating clear support for advancing clean energy policies.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExplicitly opposes cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC programs, directly protecting healthcare funding and access for vulnerable populations.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCondemns cuts to SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid, opposing policies that harm low-income workers' benefits and increase poverty, aligning with labor protection indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy

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in committee · Michigan · House Jul 23, 2025

HB 4742: Environmental protection: permits; denial of or imposition of additional conditions on; provide for when projects are located in environmentally overburdened communities, and repeal environmental permit review commission provisions. Amends secs. 1301, 1305, 1307 & 1311 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.1301 et seq.); designates secs. 1301 - 1311 as subpt. 1; adds subpt. 2 to pt. 13 & repeals secs. 1313 - 1317 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.1313 - 324.1317).

HB 4742 amends Michigan's environmental permit process to address projects in communities disproportionately affected by pollution (environmentally overburdened communities). It adds a new section (Subpart 2) requiring state agencies to consider community impacts when denying permits or imposing additional conditions for such projects. The bill also repeals the Environmental Permit Review Commission, which previously reviewed permit decisions. This directly affects developers seeking permits in these communities and state agencies responsible for environmental permitting under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires state agencies to consider community impacts in environmentally overburdened areas when denying permits or adding conditions, strengthening protections for pollution-affected communities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Environmental Justice

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in committee · Michigan · House Jul 24, 2025

HR 143: A resolution urging members of Congress to reject President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” in its entirety, and to instead pursue policies that fully fund Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC, protect vulnerable communities, expand access to healthcare, promote clean energy, and ensure a fair and equitable tax system for all Americans.

This House Resolution (HR 143) urges members of Congress to reject President Trump's proposed "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" and instead support policies that fully fund Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC. It directly affects millions of low-income Americans, including children, seniors, people with disabilities, and vulnerable communities who rely on these programs for healthcare, food assistance, and nutrition support. The resolution opposes cuts to Medicaid (which covers 1 in 4 Michiganders), SNAP (impacting 1.4 million Michiganders), and WIC, while criticizing tax breaks for wealthy households and reduced clean energy funding. It calls for expanding healthcare access, promoting clean energy, and ensuring a fair tax system as concrete policy alternatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly demands full funding for Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC - opposing defunding of essential programs, directly aligning with 'support' indicators for fiscal policy.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly states 'promote clean energy', directly aligning with renewable energy promotion indicators.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly states 'promote clean energy' in title/summary, directly advancing environmental protection through clean energy initiatives.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly demands full Medicaid funding and opposes cuts, directly advancing healthcare access for vulnerable populations relying on public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy

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in committee · Michigan · House Jan 29, 2025

HB 4035: Environmental protection: sewage; violations for sewer overflows; modify. Amends 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.101 - 324.90106) by adding sec. 3115b.

HB 4035 requires counties with populations over 1 million that violate sewage discharge permits to create and implement a plan reducing average sewage overflows by 50% within 5 years. The plan must be submitted within one year of the first violation and approved by the state environmental department within 180 days. Counties failing to submit or complete the plan face monthly fines up to $1 million and potential permit denial for sewage operations. This bill directly affects large urban counties with sewage infrastructure issues, aiming to reduce pollution through enforceable reduction targets.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires counties to reduce sewage overflows by 50% within 5 years, strengthening pollution control and environmental protection standards through enforceable mandates and penalties.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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passed both · Michigan · House May 6, 2025

HB 4028: Energy: alternative sources; zoning exemptions for large-scale solar, wind, and energy storage facilities; eliminate. Amends title & sec. 13 of 2008 PA 295 (MCL 460.1013) & repeals pt. 8 of 2008 PA 295 (MCL 460.1221 - 460.1232). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4027'25

House Bill 4028 proposes to eliminate specific state-level provisions regarding the zoning and siting of large-scale solar, wind, and energy storage facilities. The bill achieves this by repealing Part 8 of the Clean and Renewable Energy and Energy Waste Reduction Act (2008 PA 295). This action would remove state authority over the certification and regulation of such facilities, effectively returning primary zoning control to local governments. It also amends the title of the existing act to reflect these changes.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill repeals state-level zoning exemptions for solar/wind facilities, removing regulatory support and shifting control to local governments that may restrict development, directly opposing renewable energy advancement.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRepeals state zoning provisions for solar/wind facilities, removing regulatory support for renewable energy infrastructure and shifting control to local governments which may impose stricter barriers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Storage Renewable Energy Solar

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 479: Environmental protection: permits; denial of or imposition of additional conditions on; provide for when projects are located in environmentally overburdened communities, and repeal environmental permit review commission provisions. Amends secs. 1301, 1305, 1307 & 1311 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.1301 et seq.); designates secs. 1301 - 1311 as subpt. 1; adds subpt. 2 to pt. 13 & repeals secs. 1313 - 1317 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.1313 - 324.1317).

SB 479 modifies Michigan's environmental permit process to require state agencies to evaluate projects in environmentally overburdened communities - typically areas with historical pollution and health disparities - before denying permits or adding conditions. The bill creates a new Subpart 2 under the permit law, mandating that agencies consider whether a project would worsen environmental harm in these communities and potentially impose additional safeguards. It also repeals the Environmental Permit Review Commission, which previously handled certain permit appeals. This change directly affects developers seeking permits for projects in designated overburdened areas and shifts permit review authority to state agencies.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates agencies to evaluate environmental harm in overburdened communities before permit decisions, requiring additional safeguards to prevent worsened pollution.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Environmental Justice

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in committee · Michigan · House Aug 14, 2025

HB 4767: Environmental protection: hazardous products; Michigan statewide microplastics strategy; establish. Amends 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.101 - 324.90106) by adding pt. 151.

HB 4767 requires Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to develop a statewide research and monitoring plan focused on microplastics in the Great Lakes. The plan must assess microplastic impacts on health, ecosystems, and drinking water, establish baseline data, identify sources, and propose solutions like source reduction and public education. It mandates collaboration with universities (e.g., MSU, U of M) and adherence to federal standards, with the initial plan due to the legislature by July 2026 and full implementation by July 2028. This directly affects state agencies, research institutions, and Michigan residents through efforts to protect the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires statewide microplastics monitoring plan with source reduction solutions to protect Great Lakes ecosystems and drinking water, directly advancing environmental protection efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

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in committee · Michigan · House Aug 14, 2025

HB 4768: Water supply: quality and standards; testing and reporting of the amount of microplastics in public drinking water supplies; require. Amends sec. 5 of 1976 PA 399 (MCL 325.1005) & adds sec. 6a.

HB 4768 requires Michigan's environmental department to establish a program testing public drinking water for microplastics from 2027 to 2030. The program mandates quarterly testing using methods from agencies like the EPA, focusing on water sources such as Great Lakes tributaries, groundwater near landfills, and agricultural areas. By July 2031, the department must submit a report to the legislature detailing microplastic levels, testing methods, and recommendations for future action. This bill creates a baseline study to understand microplastic presence without setting immediate regulatory limits.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires mandatory microplastic testing in drinking water (pollution control) and mandates reporting to address environmental contamination, aligning with pollution prevention and protection indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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passed · Michigan · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 172: Appropriations: department of natural resources; appropriations for fiscal year 2025-2026; provide for. Creates appropriation act.

SB 172 is a funding bill that allocates over $636 million to Michigan's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It provides budget authority for DNR operations, including state parks, wildlife programs, and Great Lakes restoration, funded through state general funds, federal grants, and special revenue accounts like park fees and hunting licenses. The bill specifies exact funding amounts for key areas such as department administration, invasive species control, and public outreach programs. This is a routine budget appropriation, not a policy change, directly affecting DNR's ability to manage natural resources and public facilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $636M for DNR operations including state parks, wildlife, and Great Lakes programs via state general funds and user fees, directly advancing public service funding under budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllocates $636M to DNR for state parks, wildlife programs, and Great Lakes restoration - direct funding for environmental protection and conservation initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Parks & Recreation Wildlife

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