Bill > HB4694

This bill amends the Recreational Authorities Act to expand and clarify the powers and operations of recreational authorities in Michigan. The key changes include allowing authorities to establish a public forest and natural resources area as part of their core purposes, providing more flexibility in board operations by permitting the creation of advisory committees, and broadening the authorities' ability to acquire, manage, and use property. The bill allows authorities to engage in sustainable commercial activities like forestry and environmental credit sales, establishes guidelines for dissolving an authority, and clarifies that if a public forest and natural resources area is involved, the designated use must continue or the property will revert to the state. The bill maintains existing provisions about tax levies (up to 1 mill for 20 years) and borrowing limits, while adding specific language about the use of funds and the process for tax approvals. Importantly, the bill specifies that the legislation will only take effect if two related bills are also enacted, indicating it is part of a broader legislative package related to local government authorities.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-4694