This update includes recently introduced bills and those moving through the legislative process. Michigan Farm Bureau’s positions are rooted in the organization’s member-developed policy.
Farmland Preservation
House Bill 4607, introduced by Rep. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor), would update Michigan’s PA 116 farmland preservation law to use gender-neutral language. However, the bill also proposes replacing “household income” with “total household resources” when calculating PA 116 tax credits. Because of the proposed income definition change, Michigan Farm Bureau opposes the bill, which has been referred to the House Government Operations Committee.
Contact: Rebecca Park
Hunting and Fishing License Fees
Senate Bills 276 and 277, sponsored by Sens. John Cherry (D-Flint) and Jon Bumstead (R-North Muskegon), propose changes to Michigan’s hunting and fishing license fees.
SB 276 would:
- Increase the resident base hunting license fee from $10 to $15 and raise the surcharge from $1 to $5, to continue supporting the Michigan Wildlife Council, hunter and angler recruitment and education, and the Hunters Feeding Michigan venison donation program.
- Adjust deer license fees by raising antlered permits from $20 to $25, reducing antlerless permits to $5, and dropping Deer Management Assistance Permits (DMAPs) from $10 to $1.
- Authorize the Natural Resources Commission to establish “earn-a-second-buck” rules, requiring hunters to harvest an antlerless deer before using a second buck tag.
- Update other species and fishing license fees.
SB 277 would use existing state funds to cover revenue losses from discounted licenses, including those for seniors and antlerless deer.
Michigan Farm Bureau supports SB 276 and does not have a position on SB 277. The legislation has been referred to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration. Read the related news story: Farm Bureau supports bipartisan discussion to cut deer permit costs for farmers
Contact: Andrew Vermeesch
Anaerobic Digesters
House Bill 4257 and House Bill 4265, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Neyer (R-Shepherd) and Rep. Joey Andrews (D-St. Joseph), propose significant changes to the permitting process for anaerobic digesters.
Key components of the legislation include:
- Clarifying that digestate byproduct should always be considered a solid waste.
- Allowing appropriate inputs to be mixed within digesters.
- Permitting land application of digestate in accordance with GAAMPS (Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices).
- Developing regulatory standards that mitigate the need for overlapping permits.
The bills also establish design, record-keeping, and training requirements for anaerobic digester operators, and specify that additional permits or co-permitting should not be required for many farms and other waste generators.
Additionally, the legislation defines the terms "anaerobic digester digestate," "digestate," and "anaerobic digestate" in state law to support the proper operation of co-owned methane digester facilities. It sets a 180-day deadline for permitting decisions and outlines procedures for registering and operating methane digester facilities in Michigan.
MFB supports the legislation approved by the House on June 12. The bills now await consideration by the Senate Energy and Environment Committee. Read the related news story: Anaerobic digester legislation clears Michigan House
Contact: Josh Scramlin
Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Senate Bills 235 and 236, introduced by Sens. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) and Sen. Joe Bellino, Jr. (R-Monroe), would establish an income tax credit for producers and blenders of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) used in flights departing from Michigan. The legislation offers a $1.50-per-gallon tax credit for those who purchase, produce, or blend SAF, with additional incentives available for fuels that achieve greater emissions reductions.
MFB supports the concept of the legislation, which passed the Senate on June 25 and now awaits consideration by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Contact: Andrew Vermeesch
Farm Fatality Reporting
House Bill 4017, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Neyer (R-Shepherd), seeks to reduce the financial penalty a family farm could face if the death of a qualifying family member occurs on the farm and isn’t reported to MIOSHA within the required eight-hour window. While the bill maintains the requirement to report workplace fatalities, it would reduce the penalty for late reporting by 80% for farms with no prior violations.
Michigan Farm Bureau policy opposes enforcement actions against owner/operators for self-imposed accidental injuries.
This is the third time the bill has been introduced, receiving broad bipartisan support each time. The first version was vetoed by Governor Whitmer due to a technicality, while the second stalled in the Senate without being taken up. The current version has cleared both the House Agriculture and Rules Committees and now awaits a vote by the full House.
Contact: Josh Scramlin
Polluter Pay
Senate Bills 391 and 392, sponsored by Senators Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) and Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield), propose new requirements for environmental accountability. The legislation would mandate that polluters remediate groundwater contamination sites deemed unsafe, disclose past pollution incidents, report self-directed cleanup activities, and conduct ongoing monitoring to assess the continued impact of contaminants on groundwater.
MFB maintains comprehensive policy language underscoring the vital role that its members play in safeguarding Michigan’s natural resources and environment. MFB supports a proactive approach to challenging narratives that unfairly portray Michigan’s agricultural producers as environmental offenders. The organization opposes any presumption that farmers are responsible for contaminating public or private water sources in proximity to agricultural operations. In alignment with this position, MFB opposes Senate Bills 391 and 392.
Contact: Josh Scramlin
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