2017 Senate Bill 652 / 2018 Public Act 267

Create environmental rules review committee

Introduced in the Senate

Nov. 8, 2017

Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R-38)

To create a state environmental rules review committee comprised of certain officials and representatives of specified interests including business, government and environmentalist groups, with the duty to oversee and make judgments on whether plans by the Department of Environmental Quality to promulgate and impose new rules meet certain specified criteria including reasonableness, and to propose revisions if they do not. The committee would be empowered to stop the DEQ from imposing a rule that did not meet the criteria.

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

Dec. 7, 2017

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Jan. 25, 2018

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

To remove the proposed committee's power to halt new rules, and make revisions to the oversight process that would remain.

The amendment failed 13 to 24 (details)

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

To require voting members on the proposed oversight committee to be a resident of the state.

The amendment failed 17 to 20 (details)

Passed in the Senate 26 to 11 (details)

Received in the House

Jan. 25, 2018

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

April 11, 2018

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the bill be referred to the Committee on Michigan Competitiveness.

Referred to the Committee on Michigan Competitiveness

April 25, 2018

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

May 22, 2018

Substitute offered by Rep. Lee Chatfield (R-107)

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

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Abdullah Hammoud (D-15)

To prohibit membership on the proposed panel by an individual who has been a lobbyist at any time during the past five years.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Tenisha Yancey (D-1)

To require members of the proposed appeals panel to be a resident of the state.

The amendment failed by voice vote

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

To tie-bar the bill to House Bills 4200 to 4201, and 4214 meaning this bill cannot become law unless those ones do also. Those bills expand the powers of state environmental regulators. Those bills would create environmental oversight committees empowered to hold public hearings and more on environmental permits and enforcement actions.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Erika Geiss (D-12)

To prohibit membership on the proposed panel by an individual who has been employed by a firm found to have violated an environmental regulation in the past five years.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Passed in the House 57 to 51 (details)

To create a state environmental rules review committee comprised of certain officials and representatives of specified interests including business, government and environmentalist groups, with the duty to oversee and make judgments on whether plans by the Department of Environmental Quality to promulgate and impose new rules meet certain specified criteria including reasonableness, and to propose revisions if they do not. Ultimately, the decision to promulgate a new rule would belong to the governor regardless of the committee's judgment.

Received in the Senate

May 29, 2018

June 12, 2018

Passed in the Senate 25 to 11 (details)

To concur with the House-passed version of the bill, under which the governor has the final say on whether new environmental rules and regulations are imposed.

Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder

June 28, 2018