HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT, TOURISM AND OUTDOOR
RECREATION
REP. LAURIE POHUTSKY
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, September 28, 2023
10:30 AM
Room 327, House Office Building
The House Committee on Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
was called to order by Chair Pohutsky.
The Chair requested attendance be called:
Present: Reps. Pohutsky, Hill, Shannon, Arbit, McFall, Paiz, Martin, Prestin, Schriver.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Representative Paiz moved to adopt the meeting minutes from September 21, 2023. There
being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid HB 4359 before the committee:
HB 4359
(Rep. Brabec)
A bill to repeal 2016 PA 389, entitled "An act to
preempt local ordinances regulating the use,
disposition, or sale of, prohibiting or restricting, or
imposing any fee, charge, or tax on certain
containers," (MCL 445.591 to 445.593).
Representative Brabec and John Fournier, the Deputy City Manager of Ann Arbor, testified in
support of HB 4359. Questions and discussion followed.
Tim Minotas, representing the Sierra Club of Michigan, testified in support of HB 4359.
Chris Semrinec, representing the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, testified in
support of HB 4359.
John McNamara, representing the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association, testified in
opposition of HB 4359. Questions and discussion followed.
Amy Drumm, representing the Michigan Retailers Association, testified in opposition of HB
4359. Questions and discussion followed.
Caroline Liethen, representing the Michigan Manufactures Association, and AnnMarie
Treglia, representing the Dart Container Company, testified in opposition of HB 4359.
Questions and discussion followed.
Barb Farrah, representing Zach Taylor of the American Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance,
testified in opposition of HB 4359.
Samantha Pickering and Charlotte Jameson, both representing the Michigan Environmental
Council, testified in support of HB 4359. Questions and discussion followed.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 4359, but did not wish to speak:
Mike Spence, representing the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.
Horst Schmidt, representing the Upper Peninsula Environmental Council.
Judy Allen, representing the Michigan Township Association.
Jen Rigterink, representing the Michigan Municipal League.
Blake Goodman, representing the Humane Society of the United States.
The following people submitted a card in opposition to HB 4359, but did not wish to speak:
Matthew Miner, representing the Midwest Independent Retailers Association.
Mike Alaimo, representing the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.
Jami Des Chenes, representing the Michigan Chemistry Council.
Carlos Gutierrez, representing the Consumer Health Products Association.
Tim Langholz, representing the National Federation of Independent Business.
Derek Bajema, representing the Michigan Soft Drink Association.
Patrick Harrington, representing the Blue Triton Brands.
The Chair laid SB 26 before the committee:
SB 26
(Sen. Chang)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
(MCL 324.101 to 324.90106) by adding section
5534.
Representative Shannon moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to SB 26. The motion prevailed 8-1-
0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Pohutsky, Hill, Shannon, Arbit, McFall, Paiz, Martin, Prestin.
Nays: Rep. Schriver.
Pass: None.
Representative Martin offered the following amendment to SB 26, as substitute (H-1):
1. Amend page 4, following line 7, by inserting:
"(6)Members of the advisory committee are appointed by the director of the
department. A majority of the members of the advisory committee constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business at a meeting of the committee. A majority of the members present and
serving are required for official action of the committee. The business that the committee may
perform shall be conducted at a public meeting of the committee held in compliance with the
open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275. A writing prepared, owned, used, in
the possession of, or retained by the committee in the performance of an official function is
subject to the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246. Members of
the committee shall serve without compensation. The committee shall annually submit to the
legislature a report on committee activities and project recommendations". and renumbering
the remaining subsections.
Representative Martin moved to adopt the amendment to SB 26, as substitute (H-1). The
motion did not prevail 3-6-0:
UNFAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Martin, Prestin, Schriver.
Nays: Reps. Pohutsky, Hill, Shannon, Arbit, McFall, Paiz.
Pass: None.
Representative Arbit moved to report out SB 26 with recommendation, as substitute (H-1).
The motion prevailed 6-3-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Pohutsky, Hill, Shannon, Arbit, McFall, Paiz.
Nays: Reps. Martin, Prestin, Schriver.
Pass: None.
The following people submitted a card in support of SB 26, but did not wish to speak:
Chris Semrinec, representing the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.
Travis Boeskool, representing the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes
and Energy.
The following people submitted a card in opposition to SB 26, but did not wish to speak:
John Boothroyd, representing the Michigan Sugar Company.
Mike Alaimo, representing the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.
Caroline Liethen, representing the Michigan Manufactures Association.
The Chair laid SB 103, SB 104 and SB 105 before the committee:
SB 103
(Sen. Cherry)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
(MCL 324.101 to 324.90106) by adding sections
48714a and 48714b.
SB 104
(Sen. Daley)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
(MCL 324.101 to 324.90106) by adding sections
43528c and 43528d.
SB 105
(Sen. McCann)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act," by
amending section 40113a (MCL 324.40113a), as
amended by 2016 PA 382.
Amendments were adopted to SB 103 at the September 21st, 2023 meeting.
Representative Paiz moved to report out SB 103 with recommendation, as amended. The
motion prevailed 8-1-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Pohutsky, Hill, Shannon, Arbit, McFall, Paiz, Martin, Prestin.
Nays: Rep. Schriver.
Pass: None.
Representative Shannon moved to report out SB 104 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 8-1-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Pohutsky, Hill, Shannon, Arbit, McFall, Paiz, Martin, Prestin.
Nays: Rep. Schriver.
Pass: None.
At 11:32 AM, the Chair laid the committee at ease.
At 11:32 AM, the Chair called the committee back to order.
Joyce Janicki, representing herself, testified in opposition of SB 105.
Representative McFall moved to report out SB 105 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 8-1-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Pohutsky, Hill, Shannon, Arbit, McFall, Paiz, Martin, Prestin.
Nays: Rep. Schriver.
Pass: None.
The following people submitted a card in support of SB 103, SB 104 and SB 105, but did not
wish to speak:
Taylor Ridderbusch, representing the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Mark Spencer, representing the Michigan Trappers and Predator Caller Association.
The Chair laid HB 4325 before the committee:
HB 4325
(Rep. Scott)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act," by
amending section 8905a (MCL 324.8905a), as
amended by 2014 PA 549.
Representative Scott testified in support of HB 4325. Questions and discussion followed.
Jon Cool, representing the Michigan Railroads Association, testified in support of HB 4325.
C.A. Johnson, representing herself, testified in support of HB 4325.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 4325, but did not wish to speak:
Charlotte Jameson, representing the Michigan Environmental Council.
Judy Allen, representing the Michigan Township Association.
Herasanna Richards, representing the Michigan Municipal League.
Chris Semrinec, representing the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.
Travis Boeskool, representing the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes
and Energy.
Caroline Liethen, representing the Michigan Manufactures Association.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair Pohutsky adjourned the meeting
at 11:43 AM.
Representative Laurie Pohutsky, Chair
Legan Rose
Committee Clerk
LRose@house.mi.gov