HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND TOURISM
REP. DAVID MARTIN
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Noon.
Room 519, House Office
Building
The House Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism was called to order by Chair Martin.
The Chair requested attendance to be called:
Present: Reps. Martin, St. Germaine, VanderWall, Outman, Hoadley, Johnsen, Prestin,
Bohnak, Fairbairn, Wortz, McFall, Weiss, Foreman, Myers-Phillips and Wooden.
Absent: Reps. Scott and Arbit.
Excused: Reps. Scott and Arbit.
Representative Hoadley moved to adopt the meeting minutes from April 22, 2026. There being no
objection, the motion prevailed with unanimous consent.
The Chair laid HB 5485 before the committee:
HB 5485
(Rep. Schuette)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending sections 31502, 31503, 31504,
31505, 31506, 31507, 31508, 31509, 31510,
31511, 31513, 31515, 31516, 31517, 31518,
31520, 31521, and 31523 (MCL 324.31502,
324.31503, 324.31504, 324.31505,
324.31506, 324.31507, 324.31508,
324.31509, 324.31510, 324.31511,
324.31513, 324.31515, 324.31516,
324.31517, 324.31518, 324.31520,
324.31521, and 324.31523), sections 31502,
31503, 31504, 31505, 31507, 31508, 31510,
31511, 31513, 31515, 31516, 31517, 31518,
31520, 31521, and 31523 as added by 1995 PA
59, section 31506 as amended by 1995 PA
100, and section 31509 as amended by 2004
PA 325, and by adding sections 31506a,
31509a, 31509b, 31517a, 31518a, 31518b,
31518c, 31518d, 31528a, and 31528b.
Representative Schuette and Dave Kepler, representing the Four Lakes Task Force, testified in
support of HB 5485. Questions and discussions followed.
Dylan Gebhard and Luke Trumble, representing the Michigan Department of Environment, Great
Lakes, and Energy, testified in support of HB 5485. Questions and discussions followed.
Dan DeVawn, representing GEI Consultants, testified in support of HB 5485.
The following people submitted a card wishing to speak in support of HB 5485, but due to the time
constraints were unable to speak:
Rebecca Esselman, representing the Huron River Watershed Council.
Bryan Burroughs, representing Michigan Trout Unlimited.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 5485, but did not wish to speak:
Abbie Hawley, representing the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council.
Melissa DeSimone, representing the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association.
Megan Tinsley, representing the Michigan Environmental Council.
Nicole Keway Biber, representing Clean Water Action.
Ben Powlsen, representing the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.
Dennis Louney, representing the Mid Michigan Environmental Action Center.
Lisha Ramsdell, representing Huron Pines.
Greg Eagle, representing the Michigan Resource Stewards.
Lisa Kirkwood, representing the Flow Water Advocates.
Charles Griffith, representing the Ecology Center.
The Chair laid HB 5501 before the committee:
HB 5501
(Rep. Alexander)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending section 30311d (MCL
324.30311d), as amended by 2013 PA 98.
Representative Hoadley moved to adopt substitute (H-2) to HB 5501. The motion prevailed
10-5-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Martin, St. Germaine, VanderWall, Outman, Hoadley, Johnsen, Prestin, Bohnak,
Fairbairn and Wortz.
Nays: Reps. McFall, Weiss, Foreman, Myers-Phillips and Wooden.
Pass: None.
Representative Hoadley moved to report out HB 5501 with recommendation that the substitute
(H-2) be adopted. The committee further recommended that the bill and substitute (H-2) be
referred to the Committee on Rules. The motion prevailed 10-5-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Martin, St. Germaine, VanderWall, Outman, Hoadley, Johnsen, Prestin, Bohnak,
Fairbairn and Wortz.
Nays: Reps. McFall, Weiss, Foreman, Myers-Phillips and Wooden.
Pass: None.
The Chair laid HB 5502 before the committee:
HB 5502
(Rep. Cavitt)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending section 30305 (MCL
324.30305), as amended by 2018 PA 631.
Representative Fairbairn moved to report out HB 5502 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 10-5-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Martin, St. Germaine, VanderWall, Outman, Hoadley, Johnsen, Prestin, Bohnak,
Fairbairn and Wortz.
Nays: Reps. McFall, Weiss, Foreman, Myers-Phillips and Wooden.
Pass: None.
The Chair laid HB 5536 before the committee:
HB 5536
(Rep. Martin)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending sections 30301, 30307, and
30308 (MCL 324.30301, 324.30307, and
324.30308), sections 30301 and 30307 as
amended by 2018 PA 631 and section 30308
as added by 1995 PA 59.
Representative St. Germaine moved to report out HB 5536 with recommendation that the bill be
referred to the Committee on Rules. The motion prevailed 10-5-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Martin, St. Germaine, VanderWall, Outman, Hoadley, Johnsen, Prestin, Bohnak,
Fairbairn and Wortz.
Nays: Reps. McFall, Weiss, Foreman, Myers-Phillips and Wooden.
Pass: None.
The following people submitted a card in opposition to HB 5536, but did not wish to speak:
Jeff Vornhagen, representing the Michigan Botanical Society.
Greg Eagle, representing the Michigan Resource Stewards.
The Chair laid HB 5557 before the committee:
HB 5557
(Rep. Prestin)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending section 5503 (MCL 324.5503).
Representative Bohnak moved to report out HB 5557 with recommendation that the bill be
referred to the Committee on Rules. The motion prevailed 10-5-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Martin, St. Germaine, VanderWall, Outman, Hoadley, Johnsen, Prestin, Bohnak,
Fairbairn and Wortz.
Nays: Reps. McFall, Weiss, Foreman, Myers-Phillips and Wooden.
Pass: None.
The Chair laid HB 5082 before the committee:
HB 5082
(Rep. Kunse)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending section 30321 (MCL
324.30321), as amended by 2018 PA 631.
Representative St. Germaine moved to report out HB 5082 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 10-5-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Martin, St. Germaine, VanderWall, Outman, Hoadley, Johnsen, Prestin, Bohnak,
Fairbairn and Wortz.
Nays: Reps. McFall, Weiss, Foreman, Myers-Phillips and Wooden.
Pass: None.
The following person submitted a card wishing to speak in opposition to HB 5082, HB 5501, HB
5502 and HB 5536, but due to the time constraints were unable to speak:
Jennifer McKay, representing Niswander Environmental.
The following people submitted a card in opposition to HB 5082, HB 5501, HB 5502 and HB
5536, but did not wish to speak:
Steve Niswander, the CEO, Niswander Environmental.
Tyler Smith, representing the Michigan Wetland Association.
Abbie Hawley, representing the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council.
Ashley Flintoff, representing the Friends of the Rouge.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 5082, HB 5501, HB 5502 and HB 5536,
but did not wish to speak:
Eric Chappell, representing ABC of Michigan.
Josh Scramlin, representing the Michigan Farm Bureau.
Representative Outman moved to excuse Representatives Scott and Arbit from the meeting. There
being no objection the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair Martin adjourned the meeting at 1:27
PM.
Representative David Martin, Chair
Taylor Thrush
Committee Clerk
tthrush@house.mi.gov