Environment

in committee · Michigan · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 5897: Environmental protection: hazardous waste; Michigan PFAS action response team; establish. Creates new act.

This bill creates the Michigan PFAS action response team (MPART), a new state entity dedicated to addressing contamination from PFAS chemicals, commonly known as 'forever chemicals.' The team will be composed of directors from various state departments, including environmental protection and health services, who will work together to identify affected sites, develop cleanup plans, and coordinate public health responses. MPART is authorized to conduct investigations, hire experts, share information with local and federal agencies, and recommend changes to existing laws to better manage environmental and public safety threats related to PFAS.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes a team to address PFAS contamination, strengthening environmental protection and cleanup efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Hazardous Materials Recycling

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in committee · Michigan · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 5893: Environmental protection: other; grant program for farmers affected by polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS); create. Amends 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.101 - 324.90106) by adding pt. 4. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5894'26

This bill creates a grant program within Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to assist farmers whose land, crops, or water are contaminated with PFAS chemicals. The program would provide financial aid for medical testing, purchasing or selling land, cleaning up contamination, and replacing lost income or mortgage payments. Funding for these grants would come from a new state fund, potentially financed by increased fines on large corporations that violate environmental laws. Farmers applying for assistance would need to submit detailed financial records and a plan explaining how they intend to use the funds. The bill also defines specific criteria for what constitutes PFAS contamination and outlines the process for the state department to administer the program.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates a grant program to fund PFAS cleanup and assist farmers, directly strengthening environmental protection and pollution control.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

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in committee · Michigan · House Apr 22, 2026

HB 5842: Environmental protection: groundwater contamination; annual appropriation for certain geological survey work; direct legislature to make. Amends sec. 60108 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.60108).

This bill requires the Michigan legislature to provide annual funding to the Michigan Geological Survey to support its statewide responsibilities. The law mandates that each year's appropriation must be at least as much as the amount given for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. By securing this minimum funding level, the bill ensures the agency has the financial resources needed to carry out its duties without interruption.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates annual appropriations for the Geological Survey, ensuring continued funding for environmental protection and groundwater contamination efforts.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates annual funding for the Geological Survey to ensure uninterrupted environmental protection duties and groundwater contamination management.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

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in committee · Michigan · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 5894: Civil procedure: civil actions; portion of fines in certain state civil infraction actions under the natural resources and environmental protection act; dedicate to grant program to assist farmers affected by PFAS. Amends sec. 8831 of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.8831). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5893'26

This bill directs that fines collected from specific state civil infractions under Michigan's natural resources and environmental protection act be used to fund a grant program assisting farmers impacted by PFAS contamination. It achieves this by creating an exception to the existing rule that typically requires all such civil fines to be dedicated exclusively to supporting public and county law libraries. The legislation does not take effect unless it is tied to and passed alongside a companion bill that establishes the actual grant program for the farmers.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill directs fines from environmental infractions to fund grants for farmers affected by PFAS contamination, addressing pollution impacts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

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in committee · Michigan · House Apr 23, 2026

HB 5851: Natural resources: wetlands; rare and imperiled wetlands; update. Amends sec. 30301 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.30301).

This bill updates the definitions of wetlands and related terms within Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to improve clarity and consistency. It specifically expands the list of wetland types considered 'rare and imperiled' and establishes a schedule for the Department of Natural Resources to review and recommend changes to this list every five years. The legislation also refines technical definitions for concepts like 'exceptional wetland,' 'fill material,' and 'wetland functions and services' to better guide future conservation and restoration efforts.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill expands protections for rare wetlands and strengthens environmental regulations by updating definitions and requiring periodic reviews.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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in committee · Michigan · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 5896: Environmental protection: other; requirements for people that use sewage sludge or sewage sludge derivatives in land application to test for PFAS; provide for. Amends secs. 3103 & 3131 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.3103 & 324.3131).

HB 5896 requires people who use sewage sludge or its derivatives on land to test these materials for PFAS chemicals before application and report the results to the state Department of Environmental Quality. The bill mandates that these tests use methods approved by the federal EPA and requires anyone who prepares biosolids to notify landowners and farmers about the specific PFAS levels found in the material. Additionally, the legislation provides exceptions for certain high-quality compost used in landscaping, allowing it to bypass some existing rules if it meets specific maturity and quality standards and is used in approved locations like parks or home gardens.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates testing for PFAS in sewage sludge and requires reporting to the state, directly strengthening environmental protection and pollution control.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

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in committee · Michigan · Senate May 7, 2026

SB 951: Water supply: other; permit and license for water withdrawal for water bottling and water bottling royalties; provide for. Amends secs. 4 & 17 of 1976 PA 399 (MCL 325.1004 & 325.1017) & adds sec. 17a.

SB 951 amends Michigan's Safe Drinking Water Act to strengthen oversight of large-scale water withdrawals intended for bottling and other commercial uses. The bill requires the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to conduct detailed impact evaluations and public comment periods for new or increased water systems that withdraw over 1,000,000 gallons per day or involve significant water transfers within the state. Additionally, the legislation mandates that applicants for these permits demonstrate the technical, financial, and managerial capacity to operate their systems effectively. By adding new requirements for environmental assessments and conservation measures, the bill aims to ensure that large water projects do not harm public health or the environment.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens oversight of water withdrawals for bottling, requiring impact evaluations and public comments to protect natural resources.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Drinking Water

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in committee · Michigan · House May 13, 2026

HB 5956: Natural resources: wildlife; requirement to register and report deer pelts; eliminate. Amends secs. 42504 & 42505 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.42504 & 324.42505).

This bill removes the legal requirement for hunters and dealers in Michigan to report the number of deer pelts they possess or trade. While the law currently mandates that individuals holding licenses must submit notarized reports on all other fur-bearing animals and game birds, this legislation specifically exempts deer pelts from those reporting obligations. The change affects both hunters who keep pelts after the season and businesses that buy or sell them, allowing them to exclude deer pelts from their monthly and seasonal filings to the state department.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill removes reporting requirements for deer pelts, weakening conservation tracking and data collection for wildlife management.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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in committee · Michigan · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 6008: Natural resources: hunting; gray wolf hunting and trapping season; provide for. Amends sec. 40110b of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.40110b).

This bill proposes to allow the Michigan Natural Resources Commission to establish the first official hunting and trapping seasons for gray wolves statewide. It authorizes the commission to create these seasons within 90 days of certain related laws becoming active, aiming to manage wolf populations and reduce conflicts with humans and livestock. The legislation directly affects hunters, trappers, and wildlife managers by setting the legal framework for future wolf harvests. However, the bill includes a condition that it will not take effect unless a separate companion bill regarding wolf management is also passed by the legislature.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill establishes hunting seasons for gray wolves, which restricts wildlife populations and weakens conservation efforts.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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in committee · Michigan · House Apr 22, 2026

HB 5837: Local government: ordinances; implementation of certain taxes or regulations based on emissions and the climate or other energy-related metrics: prohibit. Creates new act.

This bill prohibits local governments in Michigan, such as cities and counties, from creating or enforcing taxes and regulations based on carbon emissions, energy consumption, or vehicle miles traveled. It defines these restricted measures broadly to include fees on greenhouse gases, specific fuel types, and mandatory emissions trading programs. If passed, any existing local rules violating these restrictions would become invalid, and local entities would be barred from using public funds to defend such policies in court. The legislation also allows individuals to sue to stop the implementation of these prohibited local measures and grants them the right to recover legal fees if they win the case.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill prohibits local governments from enacting taxes or regulations based on emissions, directly restricting local taxation authority.95% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill prohibits local governments from implementing carbon taxes and emissions regulations, restricting local climate and energy policy tools.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill prohibits local governments from enacting taxes or regulations on emissions and energy, weakening environmental protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change Tags Local Government

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