Last week the House finished work on the water use legislation package that fully implements the proposed Great Lakes compact. The Senate and House now must work to resolve differences between the two versions, which include permitting thresholds, standards for protecting cold water streams, the application of the public trust doctrine and protecting current water users and their unused capacity.
SENATE
Passed:
SB 974 – A bill to reauthorize for certain local governmental units the commercial redevelopment act.
SB 978 – A bill to provide for funding for certain recreational trails.
SB 980 – A bill to revise the exemptions for certain new personal property and the personal property tax act.
SB 1206 – A bill to increase tool and die renaissance recovery zones.
On the floor:
Energy related bills:
SB 427 – A bill to provide a process for utilities to follow before building new facilities or entering into purchase power agreements, and to provide competitive bidding in that process.
SB 947 - A comprehensive energy bill that would set a renewable energy standard, establish an energy efficiency program and set forth a process for building new energy capacity.
SB 385 – A bill to require that utilities provide a certain amount of their energy from renewable sources – starting at 7% by 2009, up to 20% by 2020.
SB 1123 – A bill to set a state standard for B20 fuel (ethanol blend).
SB 1127 - A bill to allow the relinquishment of open space easements under the Farmland and Open Space Program if land is to be used for crops for energy production.
HB 4950 - a bill to create special renaissance zones for wind and solar facilities.
SB 1196 – A bill to allow a tax credit for the installation of alternative fuel pumps.
SB 1228 – This bill allow for the creation of a state energy efficiency program.
HB 5100 - A bill to include agricultural crops in definition of renewable energy facility for renaissance zones purposes.
SB 1048 – A bill to give a tax incentives to purchasers of energy efficient appliances.
HB 5316 – A bill to require the use of high-efficiency light bulbs when replacing existing bulbs in state facilities.
HB 5383 – A bill which allows electric co-ops to be member regulated instead of regulated by the Public Service Commission.
Others:
SB 1037 - A bill to provide for the sale of certain municipal forest prime lands and allow for the relinquishment of reverter
1078-1083 – Bills to revise procedures to approve annexation petition for cities, villages, and townships. (SB 379-384 as passed the Senate in 2003)
HB 4597 - A bill to provide for hunting on Department of Natural Resources controlled land.
HB 5630 - A bill to clarify the procedure for the dissolution of a lake board.
In committees:
Energy Policy and Public Utilities Committee meets Tuesday 6/10 at 2:30pm, to take up:
General discussion of renewables.
Discussion of long range energy plan for Michigan.
In addition, the following bills may be considered (among others):
HB 5548 / HB 5549 – Bills to establish a renewable energy program in Michigan.
SB 864 – A bill to allow yard waste to be placed in landfills in order to generate more landfill gas.
HB 5524 – A main energy bill passed by the House regarding regulating electrical utilities in Michigan.
Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee meets Wednesday 6/11 at 1:00pm to take up:
HB 4323 – A bill to authorize counties to allow ORV use on road right-of-ways.
HB 6014 – A bill to modify the age and time of personal watercraft operation.
SB 1077 – A bill to permit under certain circumstances the removal, capture, or lethal control of a gray wolf attacking a dog.
SB 1084 – A bill to permit under certain circumstances the removal, capture, or lethal control of a gray wolf attacking livestock.
HOUSE
Passed:
HB 5068 - Regulate water withdrawal.
HB 5069 - Provide for a water withdrawal assessment tool.
HB 5071 - Require evaluation of certain proposed waterworks systems.
On the floor:
SB 152 – A bill to phase out the use of phosphorus in dishwashing detergent.
HB 6115 – A bill to limit the amount of phosphorus in lawn fertilizer.
HR 309 - A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact strong legislation to end the flow of new aquatic invasive species into the Great Lakes from ballast water.
HR 89 - A resolution to encourage the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Public Service Commission to promote the Safe Passage Initiative.
HB 4703 – A bill to designate the northern spring peeper as the official state amphibian
SB 338 – A bill to expand the use of gift cards issued by department of natural resources.
HB 5680- A bill to classify maple syrup production areas as agricultural property.
HB 4685 – Requires the MDEQ and MDA to prepare a booklet explaining environmental statute requirements that apply to farming operations.
HB 4222 – A bill that would provide a formula for the distribution of any trash surcharge fees authorized by the legislature.
HB 4484 – A bill to amend the Solid Waste planning process for counties.
SB 658 – A bill to expand the options for local government to make investments of gas and oil trust funds.
SB 296 - Revise requirements for organized events operation of off-road vehicle by children.
SB 531 – A bill to prohibit the use of tranquilizer shots for hunting.
In committee:
Tourism, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee meets Tuesday 6/3 at 10:30am, to take up:
HB 6133 – A bill to modify taxation on certain commercial forest lands.
HB 5741 – A bill to modify the eligibility requirements for crossbow hunting permit, including allowing them for anyone over the age of 69 years.
SB 572 – The bill allows the Natural Resources Commission to regulate the use of modified bows for hunting.
Great Lakes and Environment will meet Southfield Public Library 26300 Evergreen Rd. Southfield, MI 48034 on Tuesday (6/10) at 6:30 pm for a hearing on Global Warming and the impact it has on Michigan. Featured Speakers:
Jeffrey Anderson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Geography, MSU,
Nathaniel Ostrom, Ph.D., Department of Zoology, College of Natural Sciences, MSU,
Barry Rabe, Ph.D., Gerald R Ford School of Public Policy, U of M,
Also attending Steven Chester, Director of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
