Legislative Analysis
Phone: (517) 373-8080
ENVIRONMENTAL RULES COMMITTEE REPEAL
http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
House Bill 4824 as enacted Analysis available at
Public Act 7 of 2024 http://www.legislature.mi.gov
Sponsor: Rep. Donavan McKinney
House Bill 4825 as enacted
Public Act 8 of 2024
Sponsor: Rep. Jenn Hill
House Bill 4826 as enacted
Public Act 9 of 2024
Sponsor: Rep. Sharon MacDonell
House Committee: Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation
Senate Committee: Regulatory Affairs
Complete to 9-4-24
SUMMARY:
House Bill 4826 amends the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) by repealing sections 65
and 66, which established an Environmental Rules Committee and provided for its duties in
relation to proposed administrative rules.
MCL 24.233 et seq.
House Bill 4824 amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA)
to remove a reference to section 66 of the APA, which HB 4826 repeals.
MCL 324.21020a
House Bill 4825 amends the State Police Retirement Act to amend a reference to the APA to
reflect changes made by HB 4826.
MCL 38.1666
The bills take effect on the ninety-first day after the legislature adjourns to end the 2024
session.
BRIEF DISCUSSION:
The Environmental Rules Committee was established by 2018 PA 267 1 as part of a package of
bills that also created the Environmental Science Advisory Board and the Environmental
Permit Review Commission. (The latter two bodies would be repealed by Senate Bills 393 and
1
https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2017-2018/billanalysis/House/pdf/2017-HLA-0652-E214064B.pdf
House Fiscal Agency Page 1 of 2
 394, respectively. 2) The intent of these public acts was to establish a formal presence for the
business sector in the process of creating environmental rules, regulations, and permits, as
businesses claimed that their input on the impact of rules and regulations implemented by the
department presently known as the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
(EGLE) was not being considered with proper weight.
Critics of these review boards and commissions believe the boards slowed down the
promulgation of necessary environmental rules by giving disproportionate influence to groups
that have historically opposed new environmental regulations. By slowing or halting the rule-
making process, supporters of these repeal bills say, the boards and commissions delayed
necessary updates to standards contained in environmental rule sets, endangering public health.
Supporters of the review boards and commissions say that they serve as a needed check on
governmental authority and ensure that any new administrative rules are truly necessary and
do not unduly burden businesses and private property owners. Additionally, opponents of these
repeal bills argue that the review process did not inhibit the legislature’s ability to take action
when needed to update environmental standards, and that if a standard were in dire need of
amending, the legislature would have used its authority to do so.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The bills are unlikely to affect costs or revenues for EGLE or local governments.
Legislative Analyst: Josh Roesner
Fiscal Analyst: Austin Scott
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their
deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
2
SB 393: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2023-SB-0393
SB 394: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2023-SB-0394
House Fiscal Agency HBs 4824, 4825, and 4826 as enacted Page 2 of 2


Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 324.20120
As Passed by the House: 324.20120
As Passed by the Senate: 324.20120
House Concurred Bill: 324.20120
Public Act: 324.20120
House Enrolled Bill: 324.20120