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.
Agriculture Budget
The Legislature is poised to begin voting on the 2023-24 state budget and is recommending an overall decrease in funding for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The House and Senate appropriations committees passed draft MDARD budgets the week of May 1 reflecting a 19.6% and 13.3% decrease respectively – a deviation from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive budget recommendation, which proposed a 1.1% increase for the department.
Read this update for details on MDARD programs and MSU Extension and AgBioResearch funding.
Contact: Rebecca Park
Farmland Ownership
Five bills have been introduced in the House and Senate to limit foreign ownership of Michigan farmland. There are differences between the bills in terms of how the legislation handles waivers/exemptions, current foreign landowners, and future sales. The information listed below includes a link to each bill, the sponsor, Farm Bureau’s position, and the committee the bill was referred to.
Senate Bill 270 was introduced by Sen. Dan Lauwers (R-Brockway) and has been referred to the Senate Government Operations Committee. Farm Bureau supports the bill.
Senate Bill 260 was introduced by Sen. Joe Bellino, Jr. (R-Monroe) and has been referred to the Senate Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee. Farm Bureau supports the concept of the bill.
House Bill 4329 was introduced by Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay) and has been referred to the House Local Government and Municipal Finance Committee. Farm Bureau supports the concept of the bill.
House Bill 4134 was introduced by Rep. Neil Friske (R-Charlevoix) and has been referred to the House Local Government and Municipal Finance Committee. Farm Bureau supports the concept of the bill.
House Bill 4283 was introduced by Rep. Gina Johnsen (R-Odessa Twp) and has been referred to the House Government Operations Committee. Farm Bureau supports the concept of the bill.
Contact: Rebecca Park
Hens in Residential Areas
Introduced by Rep. James DeSana (R-Carleton), House Bills 4460 and 4462 would amend the state’s zoning and enabling act and the right to farm act respectively. HB 4460 would declare the rearing of egg-laying hens as a permitted use and not subject to any other zoning approval if the property is at least 1/4 acre and the number of hens does not exceed 5 hens for every 1/4 acre of property or a total of 25 hens, whichever is less. HB 4462 would require the agriculture commission establish generally accepted ag management practices for the site selection of egg-laying hens in residential areas by Sept. 1, 2023. Farm Bureau opposes the legislation because the organization believes the integrity of right to farm must not be jeopardized by including practices not directly related to farming.
Contact: Rebecca Park
Drain Code
House Bills 4382 and 4383, introduced by Reps. Christine Morse (D-Texas Twp) and Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington), would make major revisions to the portion of state’s drain code dealing with stormwater management. Member policy supports the general approach of this legislation, but staff continues to work with bill sponsors to create the clear limits on condemnation for this chapter also described in policy. Farm Bureau is neutral on the bill package.
Contact: Ben Tirrell
Train Length
Senate Bill 138, sponsored by Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor), would prohibit a freight or work train to be longer than 7,500 feet in Michigan. Railroads in violation would be subject to a fine of up to $5,000. Farm Bureau opposes the legislation because restricting train lengths impedes efficiency and flexibility. The bill awaits consideration by the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Contact: Andrew Vermeesch
National Popular Vote
A package of bills introduced in the House and Senate would allocate Michigan’s electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote regardless of who Michigan voters select as President. The legislation sponsored by Rep. Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) and Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) includes House Bill 4156, House Bill 4440, Senate Bill 126, and Senate Bill 295. Farm Bureau opposes the legislation as the organization’s Elections Policy states that, “We oppose: proposals to make popular vote the sole determinant of presidential elections.” All four bills await consideration by the House and Senate elections committees.
Contact: Rob Anderson
Cottage Food Operations
House Bill 4333, sponsored by Rep. Greg Alexander (R-Carsonville), would make several changes to the cottage food law, including:
Allowing third party platforms or mail to deliver products,
Increasing the gross sales limit from $20,000 to $40,000, and
Allowing the MSU Product Center to administer a registration program if a user does not want to list their private address on the label.
Farm Bureau supports the legislation that awaits consideration by the House Agriculture Committee.
Contact: Rebecca Park
State Rules More Stringent than Federal
Introduced by Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo), Senate Bill 14 would remove the statutory requirement that state rules not be more stringent than those established by the federal government. Farm Bureau opposes the legislation that passed the Senate Energy and Environment Committee on April 25 and awaits consideration by the full Senate.
Contact: Ben Tirrell
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Nicole Sevrey
