Legislative updates for July 2024

State Issues

Budget Update

The Legislature finalized the state budget in late June before adjourning for summer recess. There are several noteworthy items: 

• The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program will remain unchanged with the program’s technicians housed within the conservation district network and maintaining $3 million in ongoing funds to support administration of the program. 
• MDARD will receive upwards of $7 million for climate resiliency and regenerative agriculture efforts.
• The Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture remains funded at $3 million.
• MSU Extension and AgBioResearch programs will receive a 2.5% funding increase over the prior year.

Additional detail is available in our related news story. 

Contact: Rebecca Park 

4-H Foundation License Plate

House Bills 5056 and 5058, sponsored by Reps. Reggie Miller (D-Van Buren Twp) and Matthew Bierlein (R-Vassar), would authorize the secretary of state to develop and issue a fundraising license plate recognizing the Michigan 4-H. Funds generated by plate purchases would be directed to the Michigan 4-H Foundation. Farm Bureau supports the legislation that has been ordered enrolled and awaits Gov. Whitmer’s approval. 

Contact: Andrew Vermeesch

Ag Commodity Marketing Groups 

Senate Bill 691, sponsored by Sen. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), would amend the Agricultural Commodities Marketing Act to reduce auditing requirement for commodity organizations with collected producer assessments of less than $40,000 to only one audit per referenda (when producers vote to continue the program). Farm Bureau supports the bill that was signed into law by Gov. Whitmer as Public Act 60 of 2024. 

Contact: Rebecca Park 

EGLE Rulemaking Authority

House Bill 5205 introduced by Rep. Emily Dievendorf (D-Lansing) and Senate Bill 663 introduced by Sen. Sue Shink (D-Ann Arbor) would rescind the prohibition on the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to promulgate water quality rules under Part 31 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. HB 5614 introduced by Rep. Rachel Hood (D-Grand Rapids) purports to address issues around testing and reporting of PFAS, but also restores this authority.

SB 663 passed the Senate 20-18 on June 26 and now, alongside HB 5205 awaits consideration by the House Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee. 

Contact: Ben Tirrell