HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND TOURISM
REP. DAVID MARTIN
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, September 3,
2025
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, Scott, Weiss, Foreman, Myers-Phillips and Wooden.
Absent: Rep. Arbit.
Excused: Rep. Arbit.
Representative Outman moved to adopt the meeting minutes from August 20, 2025. There being
no objection, the motion prevailed with unanimous consent.
The Chair laid HB 4694, HB 4695 and HB 4798 before the committee:
HB 4694
(Rep. Markkanen)
A bill to amend 2000 PA 321, entitled
"Recreational authorities act," by amending
sections 5, 7, 9, 11, and 21 (MCL 123.1135,
123.1137, 123.1139, 123.1141, and 123.1151),
sections 5 and 21 as amended by 2003 PA 135
and section 11 as amended by 2016 PA 173,
and by adding section 10.
HB 4695
(Rep. Markkanen)
A bill to amend 2000 PA 321, entitled
"Recreational authorities act," by amending
sections 1 and 3 (MCL 123.1131 and
123.1133), section 3 as amended by 2016 PA
174.
HB 4798
(Rep. Markkanen)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending section 1901 (MCL 324.1901),
as amended by 2018 PA 597.
The following person submitted a card with a neutral position on HB 4694, HB 4695 and HB 4798,
but did not wish to speak:
Emily Smith, representing the Michigan Environmental Council.
The following person submitted a card in support of HB 4694 and HB 4695, but did not wish to
speak:
Kelly Ryan, representing the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities.
Representative St. Germaine offered the following amendment to HB 4694:
1. Amend page 5, line 8, after "municipality." by striking out the balance of the
subdivision and inserting "The authority shall distribute the payments to the various taxing
units based on the portion of the public forest and natural resources area each taxing unit is
in and each taxing unit's millage rate, excluding millage levied under section 1211 of the
revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1211.".
Representative St. Germaine moved to adopt the amendment to HB 4694. The motion prevailed
16-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Martin, St. Germaine, VanderWall, Outman, Hoadley, Johnsen, Prestin, Bohnak,
Fairbairn, Wortz, McFall, Scott, Weiss, Foreman, Myers-Phillips and Wooden.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
Representative St. Germaine moved to report out HB 4694 with recommendation, as amended, as
substitute H-1. The motion prevailed 15-0-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Martin, St. Germaine, VanderWall, Outman, Hoadley, Johnsen, Prestin, Bohnak,
Fairbairn, Wortz, McFall, Scott, Weiss, Foreman and Wooden.
Nays: None.
Pass: Rep. Myers-Phillips.
Representative Fairbairn moved to report out HB 4695 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 15-0-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Martin, St. Germaine, VanderWall, Outman, Hoadley, Johnsen, Prestin, Bohnak,
Fairbairn, Wortz, McFall, Scott, Weiss, Foreman and Wooden.
Nays: None.
Pass: Rep. Myers-Phillips.
Representative Fairbairn moved to report out HB 4798 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 15-0-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Martin, St. Germaine, VanderWall, Outman, Hoadley, Johnsen, Prestin, Bohnak,
Fairbairn, Wortz, McFall, Scott, Weiss, Foreman and Wooden.
Nays: None.
Pass: Rep. Myers-Phillips.
The Chair laid HB 4672 and HB 4673 before the committee:
HB 4672
(Rep. Steele)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending sections 74116 and 78119 (MCL
324.74116 and 324.78119), section 74116 as
amended by 2016 PA 1 and section 78119 as
amended by 2013 PA 81.
HB 4673
(Rep. Markkanen)
A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled
"Michigan vehicle code," by amending section
805 (MCL 257.805), as amended by 2021 PA
96.
Representative Hoadley moved to report out HB 4672 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 15-0-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Martin, St. Germaine, VanderWall, Outman, Hoadley, Johnsen, Prestin, Bohnak,
Fairbairn, Wortz, McFall, Scott, Weiss, Foreman and Wooden.
Nays: None.
Pass: Rep. Myers-Phillips.
Representative Hoadley moved to report out HB 4673 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 15-0-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Martin, St. Germaine, VanderWall, Outman, Hoadley, Johnsen, Prestin, Bohnak,
Fairbairn, Wortz, McFall, Scott, Weiss, Foreman and Wooden.
Nays: None.
Pass: Rep. Myers-Phillips.
The Chair laid HB 4411 before the committee:
HB 4411
(Rep. Phil Green)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending section 8905a (MCL 324.8905a),
as amended by 2024 PA 6.
Representative Phil Green testified in support of HB 4411. Questions and discussions followed.
Jimmy Johnson, representing the Michigan Association of Counties, testified in support of HB
4411. Questions and discussions followed.
Craig Sepich, representing the National Insurance Crime Bureau, testified in opposition to HB
4411. Questions and discussions followed.
Representative Green returned to the testimony table to answer questions from the committee.
The following people submitted a card in opposition to HB 4411, but did not wish to speak:
Dyck Van Koevering, representing the Insurance Alliance of Michigan.
Andrew Vermeesch, representing the Michigan Farm Bureau.
Robert Binck, representing the Enterprise Leasing Company of Detroit.
Joe Roth, representing the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 4411, but did not wish to speak:
Ed Noyola, representing the County Road Association.
Judy Allen, representing the Michigan Townships Association.
Ken Morin, representing the Michigan Towing Association.
Dave Hodgkins, representing the Michigan Municipal League.
T. J. Craven, representing Michigan Spill Response, testified in support of HB 4411. Questions
and discussions followed.
Representative VanderWall moved to excuse Representative 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 1:17
PM.
Representative David Martin, Chair
Taylor Thrush
Committee Clerk
tthrush@house.mi.gov