HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND OUTDOOR RECREATION
REP. GARY HOWELL
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, May 26, 2022
10:30 AM
Room 307, House Office Building
The House Committee on Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation was called to order by
Chair Howell.
The Chair requested attendance be called:
Present: Reps. Howell, Markkanen, Wakeman, Martin, Sowerby, Cambensy, Aiyash.
Absent: Reps. LaFave, Eisen.
Excused: Reps. LaFave, Eisen.
Representative Wakeman moved to adopt the meeting minutes from May 19, 2022. There
being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid HB 5642 before the committee:
HB 5642
(Rep. Brixie)
A bill to designate the black swallowtail butterfly
as the official butterfly of the state of Michigan.
Representative Sowerby moved to report out HB 5642 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 6-0-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Howell, Markkanen, Wakeman, Martin, Sowerby, Aiyash.
Nays: None.
Pass: Rep. Cambensy.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 5642, but did not wish to speak:
Representative Brixie.
Susan Leahy, representing the Meridian Garden Club.
Emma Reardon, representing the Meridian Garden Club.
Harsha Patel, representing the Meridian Garden Club.
Sharon Theroux, representing the Meridian Garden Club.
David Drain, representing the Lowell Showboat Garden Club.
Jean Goetz, representing the Michigan Garden Clubs.
Jeanette Meyer, representing the Michigan Garden Clubs.
Judy Lindemulder, representing the Michigan Garden Clubs.
Hallie Fox, representing the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.
The Chair laid before the Committee a presentation by Andrea LaFontaine, Executive
Director of the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance. Questions and discussion followed.
The Chair laid HB 5961 before the committee:
HB 5961
(Rep. Damoose)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act," by
amending sections 80123, 80124, and 80125
(MCL 324.80123, 324.80124, and 324.80125),
section 80123 as added by 1995 PA 58, section
80124 as amended by 2012 PA 294, and section
80125 as amended by 2014 PA 549.
Representative Sowerby offered the following amendments to HB 5961:
1. Amend page 7, line 21, after "part." by striking out "Except for a decal that,
under subsection (16), does not expire, a".
2. Amend page 4, line 11, after "." by striking out "10.00" and inserting "5.00".
3. Amend page 8, line 2, after "are" by striking out "immediately valid and do
not expire" and inserting "valid for a 5-year period that begins on April 1 and expires on
March 31 of the fifth year".
Representative Sowerby moved to adopt the amendments to HB 5961. The motion did not
prevail 3-4-0:
UNFAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Sowerby, Cambensy, Aiyash.
Nays: Reps. Howell, Markkanen, Wakeman, Martin.
Pass: None.
Representative Cambensy moved to report out HB 5961 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 5-1-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Howell, Markkanen, Wakeman, Martin, Cambensy.
Nays: Rep. Sowerby.
Pass: Rep. Aiyash.
The following person submitted a card in support of HB 5961, but did not wish to speak:
Scott Everett, representing the Paddle Sport Providers.
Representative Markkanen moved to excuse Representatives LaFave and Eisen from the
meeting. There being no objection the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair Howell adjourned the meeting at
11:00 AM.
Representative Gary Howell, Chair
Molly Wingrove
Committee Clerk
mwingrove@house.mi.gov