SB 213 requires the Michigan Strategic Advisory Board to create a 10-year economic development plan for the state within one year of its appointment, with annual updates thereafter. The plan must include specific goals covering all regions (rural, suburban, urban), infrastructure needs, affordable housing, environmental protection, water resources, education access, and economic opportunities for all residents. It mandates measurable metrics for success, such as population growth and resident prosperity, and requires a "whole-government approach" to achieve these objectives. The bill directly affects the Strategic Advisory Board and Michigan Strategic Fund by establishing their planning obligations under the Michigan Strategic Fund Act.
SB 443 requires Michigan health facilities performing specific surgical procedures to implement policies mandating the use of surgical smoke plume evacuation systems. It directly affects hospitals and clinics conducting procedures involving heat-producing equipment (like electrosurgery, lasers, or other heated instruments), which generate harmful smoke containing vapor, gas, or particles. The bill mandates that facilities develop and enforce policies ensuring evacuation systems capture and neutralize the smoke at the surgical site before it can contact staff or patients' eyes or airways. This creates a concrete safety requirement to protect healthcare workers and patients from exposure to potentially hazardous surgical smoke.
SB 277 redirects a portion of Michigan's sales tax revenue to the state's Game and Fish Protection Account. It amends existing law (MCL 205.75) to require that specific sales tax funds be deposited directly into this dedicated account instead of general state funds. This ensures consistent, dedicated funding for wildlife conservation and management programs, including habitat protection and fishery restoration. The bill affects state wildlife management efforts by providing a reliable revenue stream without creating new taxes.
SB 273 extends the expiration date of a fee imposed on agricultural operations to fund water quality protection programs. This bill amends Michigan's 1994 law (MCL 324.8715) to remove the sunset provision, ensuring the fee remains in effect indefinitely. It directly affects agricultural businesses that pay this fee, which supports local water quality initiatives. The bill was enacted with immediate effect after governor approval on October 7, 2025.
HB 4392 creates a funding mechanism to allocate money from the Natural Resources Trust Fund to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). It specifies how these trust fund resources will be used for DNR operations, directly affecting the department's budget management. This procedural bill does not establish new programs but formalizes existing funding transfers. The bill was enacted as PA 21'25 with immediate effect after approval by the Governor.
SB 576 creates an energy efficiency revolving fund within Michigan's state treasury to finance state and local energy efficiency projects. The fund accepts state and federal money (including elective payments under federal law), keeps all money intact year-to-year, and prioritizes projects that reduce carbon emissions. State agencies applying for projects must follow strict rules, including capping administrative costs at 10% of project costs and reporting annual savings. The Department of Energy oversees the fund, coordinates project applications, and requires annual reports detailing funding, agencies, and projected savings. This fund directly supports state and local entities implementing energy-saving upgrades.
SB 396 updates Michigan's air pollution laws to include specific regulations for carbon sequestration projects. It directly affects companies and organizations that capture and store carbon dioxide underground to reduce emissions. The bill adds new rules requiring safe storage practices, reporting, and oversight for these projects under the existing air pollution control framework. This amends current law to create a clear regulatory path for carbon sequestration as part of the state's air quality management.
SB 394 establishes that landowners in Michigan automatically own the pore space (open spaces in underground rock formations) beneath their property, which can be used for storing substances like carbon dioxide. This means property buyers inherit pore space rights unless the seller explicitly transfers or excludes them in the sale agreement. The bill requires clear language in property transfers to sever pore space rights from surface ownership, protecting existing mineral rights and surface access for oil/gas operations. It does not affect mineral rights or existing agreements but requires Senate Bill 395 to pass simultaneously for full implementation. The bill aims to clarify ownership for future resource storage projects while maintaining current legal frameworks.
SB 246 increases disposal fees for hazardous waste and adjusts limits on certain disposal wells and TENORM (radioactive materials) disposal. It directly affects waste disposal facilities and generators of hazardous waste by changing fee structures under Michigan's environmental code. Key provisions amend specific sections to raise fee limits, update disposal well regulations, and clarify TENORM handling requirements. The bill modifies multiple sections of Michigan's 1994 environmental protection law (PA 451) to modernize waste disposal oversight. (Passed on August 26, 2025, with 19 yeas, 15 nays.)
SB 247 imposes a fee of 0.417 cents per gallon on hazardous waste injected into "class I multisource commercial hazardous waste disposal wells" (special wells serving multiple generators). Owners/operators must pay this fee quarterly, adjusted annually using the Consumer Price Index, and forward revenue to a community fund. Exemptions apply for certain cleanup waste, site cleanups, and specific waste types, requiring written certification from generators. The collected fees fund annual grants to cities and townships hosting these wells, distributed based on the percentage of fees collected from that area.
