HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND TOURISM
REP. DAVID MARTIN
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, May 13, 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, Hoadley, Johnsen, Prestin, Bohnak,
Fairbairn, Wortz, McFall, Scott, Weiss, Foreman and Wooden.
Absent: Reps. Outman, Arbit and Myers-Phillips.
Excused: Reps. Outman, Arbit and Myers-Phillips.
Representative St. Germaine moved to adopt the meeting minutes from April 29, 2026. There
being no objection, the motion prevailed with unanimous consent.
The Chair laid HB 5707 before the committee:
HB 5707
(Rep. Bierlein)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending sections 30103 and 30305 (MCL
324.30103 and 324.30305), section 30103 as
amended by 2018 PA 163 and section 30305
as amended by 2018 PA 631.
Representative Bierlein and Zachary Wenzlick of Freeland testified in support of HB 5707.
Questions and discussions followed.
Dylan Gebhard and Kyle Alexander, representing the Michigan Department of Environment,
Great Lakes, and Energy, testified in opposition to HB 5707. Questions and discussions followed.
The following people submitted a card in opposition to HB 5707, but did not wish to speak:
Emily Smith, representing the Michigan Environmental Council.
David Lossing, representing the Huron River Watershed Council.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 5707, but did not wish to speak:
Dawn Crandall, representing the Home Builders Association of Michigan.
Tim Langholz, representing the National Federation of Independent Businesses.
The Chair laid HB 5682 before the committee:
HB 5682
(Rep. Phil Green)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
(MCL 324.101 to 324.90106) by adding
section 43530.
Representative VanderWall moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HB 5682. The motion prevailed
9-0-5:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Martin, St. Germaine, VanderWall, Hoadley, Johnsen, Prestin, Bohnak, Fairbairn
and Wortz.
Nays: None.
Pass: Reps. McFall, Scott, Weiss, Foreman and Wooden.
Representative Green, John Kupiec, and Bee Frederick, representing the Safari Club International,
testified in support of HB 5682. Questions and discussions followed.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 5682, but did not wish to speak:
Chris Semrinec, representing the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Bob Matthews, representing the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation.
The Chair laid a presentation from the Michigan Association of Paddle Sport Providers before the
committee.
The Chair recognized the many paddle sport livery operators in the room and thanked them for
their work for the State of Michigan.
Jake Miltner, from Pine Water Paddle Sports, gave a presentation on the work of paddle sport
providers to the committee. Questions and discussion followed.
Scott and Patti Anderson, from Big Bear Adventures, continued the presentation and discussed the
effects of recent flooding and ice-storms on the paddle sport industry. Questions and discussion
followed.
Representative Johnsen moved to excuse Representatives Outman, Arbit and Myers-Phillips 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