SB 687 Michigan Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Land use: farmland and open space; agricultural conservation easement; allow to be held by local unit. Amends sec. 36206 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.36206). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0688'25, SB 0690'25, SB 0686'25, SB 0689'25, SB 0685'25

This bill allows local governments to hold agricultural conservation easements (land protection agreements for farmland) instead of the state, with the state retaining enforcement rights through a specific clause. It directly affects farmers selling easements and local governments purchasing them, enabling installment payments for easements and requiring a special enforcement clause if held solely by a local government. Key provisions include allowing local units to purchase easements through negotiated terms and mandating that easement documents include language granting the state a "third-party right of enforcement" if local holders fail to act. The bill does not change tax credits for landowners but updates existing rules to shift easement holding authority to local governments under defined conditions.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Oct 2025

Committee Review

Dec 2025

Senate Passage

Dec 2025

House Passage

Dec 2025

Signed into Law

Dec 2025

Introduced Oct 30, 2025 Signed Dec 23, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Senate Introduced Bill → As Passed by the Senate · 5 edits · Dec 2, 2025

MODERATE

SB 687 was amended to clarify language regarding agricultural conservation easements, add new requirements for reviewing permitted uses, and expand enforcement and transfer provisions. The changes ensure clearer standards for evaluating land use impacts and strengthen the state's ability to enforce easement terms while allowing for delegation to local governments.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on agricultural conservation easements, but enforcement and transfer mechanisms were expanded to include clearer state rights and delegation options to local units of government.

REQUIREMENT

Added new subsection (2) requiring the department to consider specific criteria when reviewing permitted uses in agricultural conservation easements, including impacts on farmland productivity and existing land conditions.

ENFORCEMENT

Added new subsection (5) allowing agricultural conservation easements to be held jointly by the state and local government, with provisions for the state to delegate enforcement authority or retain third-party enforcement rights.

Added new subsection (6) allowing agricultural conservation easements to be transferred to property owners if both the state and local government agree to the transfer terms.

TECHNICAL

Corrected grammatical errors and inconsistent capitalization throughout the bill text, such as changing 'Adversely' to 'adversely' and 'Materially' to 'materially'.

Removed redundant text and formatting artifacts from the original Senate Introduced Bill version.

Floor votes · Senate Dec 2, 2025 · House Dec 16, 2025

How they voted

37–0

Passed

Total votes 37

Dec 2, 2025

D Democratic19

19 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican18

18 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Dec 23, 2025

Introduced

FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE 12/23/2025 12:32 PM

upper

Dec 23, 2025

Signed into law

APPROVED BY GOVERNOR 12/23/2025 11:02 AM

upper

Dec 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

passed; given immediate effect Roll Call #330 Yeas 103 Nays 3 Excused 0 Not Voting 4

lower

Dec 11, 2025

Committee

referred to second reading

lower

Dec 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

reported with recommendation without amendment

lower

Dec 2, 2025

Committee

referred to Committee on Agriculture

lower

Dec 2, 2025

Introduced

received on 12/02/2025

lower

Dec 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED ROLL CALL # 308 YEAS 37 NAYS 0 EXCUSED 0 NOT VOTING 0

upper

Dec 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

REPORTED BY COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FAVORABLY WITHOUT AMENDMENT(S)

upper

Nov 12, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

upper

Nov 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

REPORTED FAVORABLY WITHOUT AMENDMENT 11/6/2025

upper

Oct 30, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND AGRICULTURE

upper

Oct 30, 2025

Introduced

INTRODUCED BY SENATOR SAM SINGH

upper

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors