HOUSE BILL NO. 4851

September 09, 2025, Introduced by Rep. Maddock and referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism.

"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"

by amending sections 503 and 2132 (MCL 324.503 and 324.2132), section 503 as amended by 2018 PA 240 and section 2132 as amended by 2022 PA 2.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 503. (1) The department shall protect and conserve the natural resources of this state; provide and develop facilities for outdoor recreation; prevent the destruction of timber and other forest growth by fire or otherwise; promote the reforesting of forestlands forestland belonging to this state; prevent and guard against the pollution of lakes and streams within this state and enforce all laws provided for that purpose with all authority granted by law; and foster and encourage the protection and propagation of game and fish. Before issuing an order or promulgating a rule under this act that will designate or classify land managed by the department for any purpose, the department shall consider, in addition to any other matters required by law, all of the following:

(a) Providing for access to and use of the public land for recreation and tourism.

(b) The existence of or potential for natural resources-based industries, including forest management, mining, or oil and gas development on the public land.

(2) The department has the power and jurisdiction over the management, control, and disposition of all land under the public domain, except for those lands under the public domain that are land managed by other state agencies to carry out their assigned duties and responsibilities. On behalf of the people of this state, the department may accept gifts and grants of land and other property and may buy, sell, exchange, or condemn land and other property, for any of the purposes of this part.

(3) If any payment under subpart 13 or 14 of part 21 or section 51106 for land located north of the Mason-Arenac line is not made in full and on time during a fiscal year, then, until the end of that fiscal year, the department shall not purchase surface rights to land located north of the Mason-Arenac line unless 1 or both of the following apply:

(a) Full payment was made later during that fiscal year.

(b) The specific acquisition is approved by resolution adopted by the following, as applicable:

(i) If the land is located in a single township, the township board.

(ii) If the land is located in 2 or more townships, the county board of commissioners of the county where the land is located.

(4) For the purposes of subsections (3) and (9), respectively, land in which the department acquires or owns surface rights does not include any of the following:

(a) Land acquired under an option agreement in effect on the date when the payment described in subsection (3) became due if the acquisition takes place within 120 days after the payment became due.

(b) Land in which the department has a conservation easement.

(c) Land that, before July 2, 2012, was platted under the land division act, 1967 PA 288, MCL 560.101 to 560.293, or a predecessor act and acquired by the department.

(d) Any of the following if acquired on or after July 2, 2012:

(i) Land with an area of not more than 80 acres, or a right-of-way, for accessing other land owned by the department or for accessing the waters of the state as defined in section 3101.

(ii) Land for a trail, subject to all of the following:

(A) If the traveled portion of the proposed trail is located within an abandoned railroad right-of-way, the land excluded is limited to the abandoned railroad right-of-way.

(B) If the traveled portion of the proposed trail is located in a utility easement, the land excluded is limited to the utility easement.

(C) If sub-subparagraphs (A) and (B) do not apply, the land excluded is limited to the traveled portion of the proposed trail and contiguous land. For the purposes of the exclusion, the area of the contiguous land shall not exceed the product of 100 feet multiplied by the length of the proposed trail in feet.

(iii) Land that, on July 2, 2012 was commercial forestland as defined in section 51101 if the land continues to be used in a manner consistent with part 511.

(iv) Land acquired by the department by gift, including the gift of funds specifically dedicated to land acquisition.

(v) Land acquired by the department through litigation.

(5) The department shall maintain a record of land as described in subsection (4)(a) to (d). The record shall include the location, acreage, date of acquisition, and use of the land.

(6) By October 1, 2014, the department shall develop a written strategic plan to guide the acquisition and disposition of state lands land managed by the department, submit the strategic plan to the relevant legislative committees, and post the strategic plan on the department's website. In developing the strategic plan, the department shall solicit input from the public and local units of government.

(7) The strategic plan shall do all of the following:

(a) Divide this state into regions.

(b) Identify lands land managed by the department in each region.

(c) Set forth for each region measurable strategic performance goals with respect to all of the following for land managed by the department:

(i) Maximizing availability of points of access to the land and to bodies of water on or adjacent to the land.

(ii) Maximizing outdoor recreation opportunities.

(iii) Forests.

(iv) Wildlife and fisheries.

(d) To assist in achieving the goals set forth in the strategic plan pursuant to subdivision (c), identify all of the following:

(i) Land to be acquired.

(ii) Land to be disposed of.

(iii) Plans for natural resource management.

(e) To the extent feasible, identify public lands land in each region that are is not managed by the department but affect that affects the achievement of the goals set forth in the strategic plan pursuant to subdivision (c).

(f) Identify ways that the department can better coordinate the achievement of the goals set forth in the strategic plan pursuant to subdivision (c), recognizing that public lands are land is subject to multiple uses and both motorized and nonmotorized uses.

(g) Identify critical trail connectors to enhance motorized and nonmotorized natural-resource-dependent outdoor recreation activities for public enjoyment.

(8) The legislature approves the strategic plan entitled "Department of Natural Resources Managed Public Land Strategy" issued by the department and dated July 1, 2013. The department shall implement the most recent legislatively approved strategic plan and shall not change the strategic plan except by a strategic plan update proposed pursuant to subsection (10) and subsequently approved by the legislature.

(9) The department shall annually submit to the relevant legislative committees and post and annually update on the department's website all of the following:

(a) A report on the implementation of the strategic plan.

(b) The number of acres of land in which the department owns surface rights north of the Mason-Arenac line, south of the Mason-Arenac line, and in total for this state.

(i) Acres of land managed by the department.

(ii) Acres of state park and state recreation area land.

(iii) Acres of state game and state waterfowl areas.

(iv) Acres of land managed by the department and open for public hunting.

(v) Acres of state-owned mineral rights managed by the department that are under a development lease.

(vi) Acres of state forestland.

(vii) Public boating access sites managed by the department.

(viii) Miles of motorized trails managed by the department.

(ix) Miles of nonmotorized trails managed by the department.

(10) For legislative consideration and approval, as provided in subsection (8), by July 1, 2021, and every 6 years thereafter, the department shall propose an update to the strategic plan, submit the proposed updated strategic plan to the relevant legislative committees, and post the proposed updated strategic plan on the department's website. At least 60 days before posting the proposed updated plan, the department shall prepare, submit to the relevant legislative committees, and post on the department's website a report that covers all of the following and includes department contact information for persons who that wish to comment on the report:

(a) Progress toward the goals set forth in the strategic plan pursuant to subsection (7)(c).

(b) Any proposed changes to the goals, including the rationale for the changes.

(11) Subject to subsection (12), subsections (12) and (13), if land owned by this state and managed by the department, land owned by the federal government, and land that is commercial forestland as defined in section 51101 constitute 40% or more of the land in a county, the department shall not acquire land in that county if, not more than 60 days after the department sent the notice of the proposed acquisition to the board under section 2165, the department receives a copy of a resolution rejecting the proposed acquisition adopted by the following, as applicable:

(a) If the land is located in a single township, the township board.

(b) If the land is located in 2 or more townships, the county board of commissioners.

(12) Subsection (11) does not apply to land described in subsection (4)(d).

(13) If land owned by this state and managed by the department constitutes more than 50% of the land in a county, township, city, village, or school district, the department shall, by 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this subsection, declare to be surplus an amount of land in that public corporation equal to or greater than the excess over 50%. The surplus shall be conveyed as provided under section 2132. The department shall not acquire additional land in such a public corporation if land owned by this state and managed by the department constitutes or, as a result of the acquisition, will constitute more than 50% of the land in the public corporation. This subsection does not apply to land acquired using funds subject to federal restrictions on sale or diversion, including, but not limited to, the Pittman-Robertson wildlife restoration act, 16 USC 669 to 669i, and the Dingell-Johnson sport fish restoration act, 16 USC 777 to 777m, or to land acquired with proceeds from the Michigan natural resources trust fund established in section 35 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963 and provided for in part 19 or the game and fish protection trust fund established in section 41 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963 and provided for in part 437.

(14) (13) The department may accept funds, money, or grants for development of salmon and steelhead trout fishing in this state from the government of the United States, or any of its departments or agencies, pursuant to the anadromous fish conservation act, 16 USC 757a to 757f, and may use this money in accordance compliance with the terms and provisions of that act. However, the acceptance and use of federal funds does not commit state funds and does not place an obligation upon obligate the legislature to continue the purposes for which the funds are made available.

(15) (14) The department may appoint persons individuals to serve as volunteers to assist the department in meeting its responsibilities as provided in this part. Subject to the direction of the department, a volunteer may use equipment and machinery necessary for the volunteer service, including, but not limited to, equipment and machinery to improve wildlife habitat on state game areas.

(16) (15) The department may lease lands land owned or controlled by the department or may grant concessions on lands land owned or controlled by the department to any person for any purpose that the department determines to be necessary to implement this part. The department shall grant each concession for a term of not more than 7 years based on extension, renegotiation, or competitive bidding. However, if the department determines that a concession requires a capital investment in for which reasonable financing or amortization necessitates a longer term, the department may grant a concession for up to a 15-year term. A concession granted under this subsection shall require, unless the department authorizes otherwise, that all buildings and equipment be removed at the end of the concession's term. Any lease entered into under this subsection shall limit the purposes for which the leased land is to be used and shall authorize the department to terminate the lease upon a finding if the department finds that the land is being used for purposes other than those permitted in the lease. Unless otherwise provided by law, money received from a lease or a concession of tax reverted land shall be credited to the fund providing financial support for the management of the leased land. Money received from a lease of any other land shall be credited to the fund from which the land was purchased. However, money received from program-related leases on these lands shall be credited to the fund providing financial support for the management of the leased lands. For land managed by the forest management division of the department, that fund is either the forest development fund established pursuant to section 50507 or the forest recreation account of the Michigan conservation and recreation legacy fund provided for in section 2005. For land managed by the wildlife or fisheries division of the department, that fund is the game and fish protection account of the Michigan conservation and recreation legacy fund provided for in section 2010.

(17) (16) When If the department sells land, the deed may reserve all mineral, coal, oil, and gas rights to this state only if the land is in production or is leased or permitted for production, or if the department determines that the land has unusual or sensitive environmental features or that it is in the best interest of this state to reserve those rights as determined by commission policy. However, the department shall not reserve the rights to sand, gravel, clay, or other nonmetallic minerals. When If the department sells land that contains includes subsurface rights, the department shall include a deed restriction that restricts the subsurface rights from being severed from the surface rights in the future. If the landowner severs the subsurface rights from the surface rights, the subsurface rights revert to this state. The deed may reserve to this state the right of ingress and egress over and across land along watercourses and streams. Whenever an exchange of land is made If land is exchanged with the United States government, a corporation, or an individual for the purpose of consolidating to consolidate the state forest reserves, the department may issue deeds without reserving to this state the mineral, coal, oil, and gas rights and the rights of ingress and egress. The department may sell the limestone, sand, gravel, or other nonmetallic minerals. However, the department shall not sell a mineral or nonmetallic mineral right if the sale would violate part 353, part 637, or any other provision of law. The department may sell all reserved mineral, coal, oil, and gas rights to such lands upon land under terms and conditions as that the department considers proper and may sell oil and gas rights as provided in part 610. The owner of those lands the land as shown by the records shall be given priority in case if the department authorizes any sale of those lands, rights, and, unless the landowner waives that priority, the department shall not sell such those rights to any other person. For the purpose of this section, mineral rights do not include rights to sand, gravel, clay, or other nonmetallic minerals.

(18) (17) The department may enter into contracts for the sale of the economic share of royalty interests it holds in hydrocarbons produced from devonian or antrim shale qualifying for the nonconventional source production credit determined under section 45k of the internal revenue code of 1986, 26 USC 45k. However, in entering into these contracts, the department shall ensure that revenues to the natural resources trust fund under these contracts are not less than the revenues the natural resources trust fund would have received if the contracts were not entered into. The sale of the economic share of royalty interests under this subsection may occur under contractual terms and conditions considered appropriate by the department and as approved by the state administrative board. Funds The department shall transmit funds received from the sale of the economic share of royalty interests under this subsection shall be transmitted to the state treasurer for deposit in the state treasury as follows:

(a) Net proceeds allocable to the nonconventional source production credit determined under section 45k of the internal revenue code of 1986, 26 USC 45k, under this subsection shall be credited to the environmental protection fund created in section 503a.

(b) Proceeds related to the production of oil or gas from devonian or antrim shale shall be credited to the natural resources trust fund or other applicable fund as provided by law.

(19) (18) As used in this section:

(a) "Concession" means an agreement between the department and a person under terms and conditions as specified by the department to provide services or recreational opportunities for public use.

(b) "Lease" means a conveyance by the department to a person of a portion of this state's interest in land under specific terms and for valuable consideration , thereby granting and that grants to the lessee the possession of that the portion conveyed during the period stipulated.

(c) "Mason-Arenac line" means the line formed by the north boundaries of Mason, Lake, Osceola, Clare, Gladwin, and Arenac Counties.

(d) "Natural resources trust fund" means the Michigan natural resources trust fund established in section 35 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963 and provided for in section 1902.

(e) "Net proceeds" means the total receipts received from the sale of royalty interests under subsection (17) (18) less costs related to the sale. Costs may include, but are not limited to, legal, financial advisory, geological or reserve studies, and accounting services.

(f) "Relevant legislative committees" means the senate and house committees with primary responsibility for natural resources and outdoor recreation and the corresponding appropriation subcommittees.

(g) "Strategic plan" or "plan" means the plan developed under subsection (6), as updated under subsection (10), if applicable.

Sec. 2132. (1) Subject to subsection subsections (2) and (5), the department may sell surplus land at a price established using the method that the department determines to be most appropriate, such as any of the following:

(a) Appraisal, subject to section 2132a.

(b) Appraisal consulting.

(d) The true cash value of nearby land as determined by the local assessor.

(2) If Subject to subsection (5), if the department offers tax reverted land for sale and the land is not sold within 9 months, the department may sell the land to a qualified buyer who submits an offer that represents a reasonable price for the property as determined by the department.

(3) The sale of surplus land shall be conducted by the department through 1 of the following methods:

(a) A public auction sale.

(b) A negotiated sale.

(4) Subject to subsection (1), (5), the sale of surplus land through a public auction sale shall be to the highest bidder.

(5) Within 180 days after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this subsection, the department of technology, management, and budget, or another agency designated by the department of technology, management, and budget, shall conduct a public auction on the internet of land declared to be surplus under section 503(13). At least 30 days before an auction under this subsection, the department shall provide written notice, by certified mail, to any person that the department knows or has reason to know may claim a prior conflicting interest in the land, including, but not limited to, parties to an unrecorded conveyance or lease. The notice shall state the intent to convey the land and specify the date and website address of the auction. Any qualified person may participate in the auction. The department of technology, management, and budget or other agency conducting the auction shall accept the highest bid submitted by a qualified bidder, regardless of its amount. The conveyance of each parcel or contiguous tract of parcels shall be executed within 90 days after the auction for that parcel or tract is conducted. If no bids are submitted for the land, the land is, at the close of the auction, conveyed by operation of law to the county where the land is located, unless the department has actual notice of a conflicting prior conveyance. A conveyance under this subsection shall cover all of this state's interest in the land and is not subject to any condition, restriction, covenant, easement, reversionary interest, or right of entry that was not of record in the office of the county register of deeds on the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section. If land is conveyed to a county under this subsection, the county may sell, lease, manage, or dispose of the land as permitted by law. However, the county shall not convey the land back to this state.

(6) (5) Effective 60 days after the department receives an application to purchase surplus land through a negotiated sale, the application shall be considered to be complete unless the department proceeds as provided under subsection (6).(7).

(7) (6) If, before the expiration of the 60-day period under subsection (5), (6), the department notifies the applicant, in writing, that the application is not complete, specifying the information necessary to make the application complete, or that the fee required under subsection (8) (9) has not been paid, specifying the amount due, the running of the 60-day period under subsection (5) (6) is tolled until the applicant submits to the department the specified information or fee amount due, at which time the application shall be considered to be complete. Notice under this subsection shall include a statement of the requirements of subsection (12).(13).

(8) (7) Within 210 days after the application is considered to be complete, or a later date agreed to by the applicant and the department, the department shall approve or deny the application and notify the applicant in writing. If the department denies the application, the notice shall set forth the specific reasons for the denial.

(9) (8) The department shall charge a fee for an application for the purchase of surplus land. The fee shall be $300.00 plus, if the surplus land is more than 300 acres in size, the actual reasonable cost of processing the application.

(10) (9) A notice of the proposed sale of surplus land shall be given as provided in section 2165.

(11) (10) The proceeds from the sale of surplus land shall be deposited into the fund. However, proceeds from the conveyance of land under subsection (5) shall be deposited as provided in section 2138(5).

(12) (11) Surplus land that is sold under this subpart shall be conveyed by quitclaim deed approved by the attorney general.

(13) (12) Each application, as may be later amended or supplemented, submitted by a private person under subsection (3)(b) for the purchase of land shall be considered and acted upon by the department to final decision before any other application submitted at a later date by a different private person for the purchase or exchange of the same land. However, if an application is not completed or the fee under subsection (8) (9) is not paid within 60 days after the department notifies the applicant under subsection (6) (7) that the application is incomplete or that the fee has not been paid, the department shall consider and act upon to final decision an application submitted at a later date that is completed and for which the fee has been paid before that previously submitted application.

(14) (13) In a land transaction, the department may give preference to a local unit of government but shall not give preference to any other person.