This resolution asks Michigan's representatives in Congress to support H.R. 7459, a bill designed to create a federal Coastal Storm Risk Management Trust Fund. The proposed fund would provide permanent money for coastal projects, such as beach nourishment, to help manage erosion along the Great Lakes. By encouraging the delegation to back this legislation, the bill aims to ensure a steady source of funding for protecting shorelines and public property. It does not directly allocate money itself but serves as a formal request to influence the congressional delegation's stance on the funding bill.
HB 5536 updates Michigan's legal definition of "wetland" under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. It expands the definition to include features that are contiguous to the Great Lakes, over 5 acres in size, contain endangered species, or are designated as rare wetland types (like Great Lakes marshes or coastal fens). This change directly affects landowners, developers, and conservation groups by altering which areas require environmental review or mitigation for development. The bill also clarifies terms like "altered wetland" and "voluntary restoration projects" to guide land management practices.
HB 5485 updates Michigan's dam safety regulations for inland lakes by revising definitions and adding new sections to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. The bill directly affects dam owners, operators, and the state agency responsible for dam safety oversight. Key changes include updated terms like "spillway capacity" and "emergency action plan," alongside new regulatory sections (e.g., 31506a, 31509a) to modernize safety standards. These amendments clarify requirements for dam maintenance, flood management, and structural integrity without altering existing enforcement procedures.
SB 441 establishes a legal framework for local governments (cities, towns, counties) in Michigan to create stormwater management utilities. It requires these entities to adopt a stormwater management plan and a fee ordinance, with fees based on property characteristics to cover costs for flood control and water quality systems. The bill mandates public hearings before plan adoption, outlines fee calculation methods using engineering standards, and includes processes for property owners to request fee reductions or appeal charges. It directly affects property owners who may pay the new fees and local governments responsible for implementing the system.
SB 553 amends Michigan's tax increment financing (TIF) law to allow municipalities to fund water resource improvements using TIF revenues. It specifically adds projects like lake management, shoreline protection, stormwater systems, invasive species control, and public access to inland lakes or rivers to the list of eligible TIF activities. Municipalities can now create authorities within designated "water resource improvement districts" (areas near lakes, rivers, or harbors) to finance these projects through captured tax revenues. The bill clarifies definitions for terms like "water resource improvement" and "water resource improvement district" to ensure TIF funds are properly applied to environmental and public access enhancements.
HB 5103 allows property owners along the Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and St. Clair) to install temporary erosion control barriers without a permit, using specific materials like biodegradable sandbags or approved synthetic textiles. It requires owners to file a notice with local authorities before installation and ensures barriers don’t block shoreline access or harm dunes. The bill exempts these temporary structures from standard permitting rules, while still requiring compliance with local ordinances and material restrictions. This directly affects homeowners and property owners managing erosion near Great Lakes shorelines.
House Bill 4460 establishes the "Clean Michigan 2 Initiative Implementation" within the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. This bill creates the Clean Michigan 2 Initiative Bond Fund and authorizes the state to issue bonds to finance various environmental and water infrastructure projects. The bond proceeds are specifically allocated for purposes such as cleanup and redevelopment, municipal landfill grants, brownfield redevelopment, water infrastructure improvements, and remediation of contaminated lake and river sediments. These funds will support projects that enhance water safety, provide access to clean and safe water, improve flood resilience, and address environmental contamination across the state.
This resolution designates October 19-26, 2025, as Microplastics Awareness Week in Michigan. It symbolically recognizes the environmental and health concerns related to microplastics in the state's waterways, lakes, and Great Lakes shoreline, without creating new laws or regulations. The resolution encourages Michiganders to learn about microplastics and take actions like reducing single-use plastics and participating in cleanups. It does not directly affect any specific group or impose policy changes.
HB 4314 amends Michigan's environmental law to allow property owners and communities to remove free-floating debris and uprooted vegetation from shorelines without a permit. Specifically, it permits mechanical or manual removal between the ordinary high-water mark and the water's edge, as long as the activity doesn't impact the lakebed. This change directly affects residents, shoreline property managers, and local groups maintaining areas along Great Lakes and Lake St. Clair shorelines. The exemption does not apply to the St. Clair River delta area in Clay Township, St. Clair County, as defined in 1899 PA 175.
