2017 Senate Bill 302 / 2018 Public Act 238

Revise state land ownership limits

Introduced in the Senate

April 19, 2017

Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R-38)

To eliminate a cap on the amount of acres the state can own in the northern part of the state, but require additional procedures for state land acquisitions. The bill would prohibit acquisitions if the state fails to make full “payments in lieu of property taxes” (PILT) on state land to local governments. The bill revises a number of details of current law to generally facilitate access to state land for recreation and resource use, and makes a number of other changes to state management details.

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

May 23, 2017

Amendment offered

The amendment passed by voice vote

Oct. 19, 2017

Substitute offered by Sen. Tom Casperson (R-38)

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D-18)

The amendment failed 12 to 25 (details)

Passed in the Senate 25 to 12 (details)

Received in the House

Oct. 19, 2017

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

May 22, 2018

Amendment offered by Rep. Bill Sowerby (D-31)

To require the forest management plans owners must adopt to get the tax break be one that "promotes the restoration and conservation of natural forests".

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Bill Sowerby (D-31)

To revise a provision of this law that provides for requests from a recreational users organization or a local government seeking the removal of a berm, gate, or other human-made barrier state land, by limiting the former to requests from a nonprofit organization.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Bill Sowerby (D-31)

To eliminate restrictions in this law on using fish and game protection money to benefit nongame wildlife, and eliminate other provisions that essentially require forest to be managed for mixed use purposes, including economic values.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Bill Sowerby (D-31)

To strip out a provision that allows the DNR to consider selling or exchanging land that is not designated as surplus land.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Stephanie Chang (D-6)

To require more extensive notice requirements if the DNR considers designating land as "surplus" and subject to sale or exchange.

The amendment failed by voice vote

June 12, 2018

Substitute offered by Rep. Gary Howell (R-82)

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 66 to 43 (details)

To eliminate a cap on the amount of acres the state can own in the northern part of the state, but require additional procedures for state land acquisitions. The bill would prohibit acquisitions if the state fails to make full “payments in lieu of property taxes” (PILT) on state land to local governments. The bill revises a number of details of current law to generally facilitate access to state land for recreation and resource use, and makes a number of other changes to state management details.

Received in the Senate

June 12, 2018

Passed in the Senate 24 to 12 (details)

To concur with the House-passed version of the bill.

Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder

June 27, 2018