Bill > HB4176

This bill amends Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to modify trespassing regulations, primarily by introducing a new method for property owners to mark their land as off-limits. Specifically, the bill now allows property owners to use purple paint marks on trees or posts as an alternative to traditional posted signs to indicate that unauthorized entry is prohibited. These purple paint marks must be vertical lines at least 8 inches long, placed between 3 and 5 feet above the ground, and spaced no more than 100 feet apart. The bill also clarifies existing provisions about entering private property for recreational activities, maintaining that individuals cannot enter or remain on another person's property without consent, with some exceptions. For instance, fishermen can still wade through navigable streams and access adjacent land when necessary, and hunters can retrieve dogs with certain restrictions. The bill standardizes language around consent, specifying that permission to enter property can be oral or written and can include specific conditions. The law will take effect 90 days after enactment and is tied to the passage of a related House Bill, ensuring both pieces of legislation are implemented together.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-4176