HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
REP. JERRY NEYER
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, December 11, 2025
10:30 AM
Room 308, House Office
Building
The House Committee on Agriculture was called to order by Chair Neyer.
The Chair requested attendance to be called:
Present: Reps. Neyer, Wortz, Alexander, Fox, Kunse, Pavlov, Paiz, Dievendorf and Skaggs.
Absent: Reps. Lightner and Rheingans.
Excused: Reps. Lightner and Rheingans.
Representative Alexander moved to adopt the meeting minutes from November 13, 2025. There
being no objection, the motion prevailed with unanimous consent.
The Chair laid SB 93 before the committee:
SB 93
(Sen. Singh)
A bill to amend 2000 PA 92, entitled "Food
law," by amending section 4105 (MCL
289.4105), as amended by 2016 PA 188.
Representative Alexander moved to report out SB 93 with recommendation. The motion prevailed
9-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Neyer, Wortz, Alexander, Fox, Kunse, Pavlov, Paiz, Dievendorf and Skaggs.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
The following people submitted a card in support of SB 93, but did not wish to speak:
Rebecca Park, representing the Michigan Farm Bureau.
Mikaylah Heffernan, representing the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural
Development.
The Chair laid SB 685, SB 686, SB 687, SB 688, SB 689, SB 690 and SB 699 before the
committee:
SB 685
(Sen. Shink)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
(MCL 324.101 to 324.90106) by adding
section 36109b.
SB 686
(Sen. Daley)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending section 36110 (MCL
324.36110), as amended by 2016 PA 265.
SB 687
(Sen. Singh)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending section 36206 (MCL
324.36206), as amended by 2002 PA 75.
SB 688
(Sen. Cherry)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending section 36103 (MCL
324.36103), as amended by 2003 PA 36.
SB 689
(Sen. Lauwers)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending section 36111 (MCL
324.36111), as amended by 2016 PA 265.
SB 690
(Sen. Victory)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending section 36109 (MCL
324.36109), as amended by 2016 PA 265.
SB 699
(Sen. Shink)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending section 36202 (MCL
324.36202), as amended by 2016 PA 265.
Mikaylah Heffernan and Jamie Summers, representing the Michigan Department of Agriculture
and Rural Development, gave a presentation on the PA 116 program. Questions and discussion
followed.
Steven Drake, representing Drakelan Farms LLC, and Barry Lonik, representing the Treemore
Ecology & Land Services, testified together in support of SB 685, SB 686, SB 687, SB 688, SB
689, SB 690 and SB 699.
Mike Okma, representing the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, and Chris Bunch,
representing the Six Rivers Land Conservancy, testified together in support of SB 685, SB 686, SB
687, SB 688, SB 689, SB 690 and SB 699.
Becky Huttenqa, representing Ottawa County, and Donald Oesterle testified together in support of
SB 685, SB 686, SB 687, SB 688, SB 689, SB 690 and SB 699.
At 11:08 AM, the Chair laid the committee at ease.
At 11:12 AM, the Chair called the committee back to order.
Representative Skaggs moved to report out SB 685 with recommendation. The motion prevailed
7-0-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Neyer, Wortz, Alexander, Kunse, Pavlov, Paiz and Skaggs.
Nays: None.
Pass: Rep. Fox.
Representative Wortz moved to report out SB 686 with recommendation. The motion prevailed
7-0-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Neyer, Wortz, Alexander, Kunse, Pavlov, Paiz and Skaggs.
Nays: None.
Pass: Rep. Fox.
Representative Kunse moved to report out SB 687 with recommendation. The motion prevailed
7-0-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Neyer, Wortz, Alexander, Kunse, Pavlov, Paiz and Skaggs.
Nays: None.
Pass: Rep. Fox.
Representative Alexander moved to report out SB 688 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 7-0-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Neyer, Wortz, Alexander, Kunse, Pavlov, Paiz and Skaggs.
Nays: None.
Pass: Rep. Fox.
Representative Pavlov moved to report out SB 689 with recommendation. The motion prevailed
7-0-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Neyer, Wortz, Alexander, Kunse, Pavlov, Paiz and Skaggs.
Nays: None.
Pass: Rep. Fox.
Representative Pavlov moved to report out SB 690 with recommendation. The motion prevailed
7-0-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Neyer, Wortz, Alexander, Kunse, Pavlov, Paiz and Skaggs.
Nays: None.
Pass: Rep. Fox.
Representative Paiz moved to report out SB 699 with recommendation. The motion prevailed
7-0-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Neyer, Wortz, Alexander, Kunse, Pavlov, Paiz and Skaggs.
Nays: None.
Pass: Rep. Fox.
The following person submitted a card with a neutral position on SB 685, SB 686, SB 687, SB 688,
SB 689, SB 690 and SB 699, but did not wish to speak:
Haley Stichhan, representing Kent County.
The following people submitted a card in support of SB 685, SB 686, SB 687, SB 688, SB 689, SB
690 and SB 699, but did not wish to speak:
Keith Creogh, representing Heart of the Lakes/6 Rivers.
Jonathan Jarosz, representing Heart of the Lakes.
Susan Lackey, representing Heart of the Lakes.
Jason Meekhof, representing the Blue Heron Land Conservancy.
Rosie Pahl Donaldson, representing the City of Ann Arbor.
Will Manty, representing the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy.
Kim Hayes, representing the Leelanau Conservancy.
Denise Hartsough, representing the League of Women Voters of Michigan.
Rebecca Park, representing the Michigan Farm Bureau.
Susan Morley LaCroix, representing the Legacy Land Conservancy.
Chuck Lippstreu, representing the Michigan Agri-Business Association.
Elizabeth Brost, representing the Agricultural Preserve Boards of Michigan.
Jeanine Igl, representing the Ingham County Farmland & Open Space Preservation Board.
Representative Alexander moved to excuse Representatives Lightner and Rheingans from the
meeting. There being no objection the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair Neyer adjourned the meeting at 11:20
AM.
Representative Jerry Neyer, Chair
Brittany Middaugh
Committee Clerk
bmiddaugh@house.mi.gov