Bill > HB4118

This bill amends the Michigan Drain Code of 1956 to modify several provisions related to drain financing and special assessments, with particular attention to how costs are apportioned and assessed across different types of lands and government entities. The bill introduces several key changes, including clarifying how drain commissioners determine and apportion benefits for drainage projects, expanding notification requirements for drain assessments, and specifically addressing how state-owned lands, including those controlled by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), will be assessed for drain projects. The bill provides more detailed guidelines for how benefits will be calculated for various entities like townships, cities, villages, county road commissions, and state transportation departments, ensuring that assessments are based on the specific benefits received from a drainage project. It also includes provisions for additional assessments if initial funding is insufficient, allows for spreading these assessments over up to seven years, and creates a new process for review and potential objection when state-owned lands are involved in drain assessments. The changes aim to make the drain assessment process more transparent, equitable, and flexible for both local governments and state agencies.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-4118