Public Act 190 of 2008

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• Introduced by Sen. Patricia Birkholz (R) on February 20, 2007, to enact into Michigan statute the terms of the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact, which includes a ban on new diversions of water outside the Basin with limited exceptions, and would empower a council comprised of delegates from the signatories with authority to adopt regulations to enforce the compact, but these would not have the force of law unless member states adopted their own regulations. Essentially, the new compact repeals the veto that Michigan and each Great Lakes state currently has on diversions of water to outside the Great Lakes basin, and replaces it with restrictions on water use both inside and outside the basin. Note: Michigan is the only state entirely located inside the Great Lakes basin.
  • Referred to the Senate Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs Committee on February 20, 2007.
    • Reported in the Senate on December 6, 2007, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-6) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the Senate on May 14, 2008, to replace the previous version of the bill with one adding a provision establishing that if a water withdrawal permit is granted under certain state regulations, it is considered to meet the terms of the multi-state compact. This could have the effect of preempting provisions of the conpact that could give other other states the authority to block certain projects in Michigan. The substitute passed in the Senate by voice vote on May 14, 2008.
• Passed in the Senate (38 to 0) on May 14, 2008, to enact into Michigan statute the terms of the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact, which includes a ban on new diversions of water outside the Basin with limited exceptions, and would empower a council comprised of delegates from the signatories with authority to adopt regulations to enforce the compact, but these would not have the force of law unless member states adopted their own regulations. Essentially, the new compact repeals the veto that Michigan and each Great Lakes state currently has on diversions of water to outside the Great Lakes basin, and replaces it with restrictions on water use both inside and outside the basin. Note: Michigan is the only state entirely located inside the Great Lakes basin. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the House on May 14, 2008.
  • Referred to the House Health Policy Committee on May 14, 2008.
    • Reported in the House on June 24, 2008, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the House on June 24, 2008, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described. The substitute passed in the House by voice vote on June 24, 2008.
• Passed in the House (108 to 0) on June 24, 2008, to enact into Michigan statute the terms of the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact, which includes a ban on new diversions of water outside the Basin with limited exceptions, and would empower a council comprised of delegates from the signatories with authority to adopt regulations to enforce the compact, but these would not have the force of law unless member states adopted their own regulations. Essentially, the new compact repeals the veto that Michigan and each Great Lakes state currently has on diversions of water to outside the Great Lakes basin, and replaces it with restrictions on water use both inside and outside the basin. Note: Michigan is the only state entirely located inside the Great Lakes basin. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the Senate on June 25, 2008.
• Passed in the Senate (36 to 0) on June 25, 2008, to concur with the House-passed version of the bill. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on July 9, 2008.