Bill > HB4766

This bill amends Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and distribution of products containing plastic microbeads, which are tiny synthetic particles less than 5 millimeters in size. Beginning January 1, 2026, the bill will ban the manufacture and promotional offering of materials with plastic microbeads, with an exception for personal care and cleaning products. Starting January 1, 2027, the bill will prohibit selling or distributing personal care and cleaning products containing plastic microbeads, unless the amount is less than 1 part per million by weight. Violations can result in civil fines up to $2,000 per day, with courts considering factors such as the nature of the violation, its severity, and the economic impact on the violator. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy will be responsible for administering and enforcing the law, providing public information about the prohibitions, and preparing annual reports on enforcement and progress. The bill defines various terms like "personal care product" and "plastic" and allows the department to create additional rules to implement these provisions, with the overall goal of reducing plastic microbead pollution in the environment.