LAND CONSERVATION LEGACY PLAN; DNR S.B. 1124 (S-1):
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 1124 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Senator Sue Shink
Committee: Natural Resources and Agriculture
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require the
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to coordinate State efforts and work toward voluntary
conservation, restoration, and connection of six regional plans to create a legacy plan that
conserved 30% of the State's total land area of land and water by 2030, which could not
include the Great Lakes or Lake St. Clair. Generally, the plan could only be implemented if
approved by the Senate and House Committees with primary responsibility of conservation
issues, and the DNR would have to consider in the plan's development public input, expert
opinions, and the plan's contribution to the environment and access to outdoor recreation.
MCL 324.503 et al.
BRIEF RATIONALE
The Michigan the Beautiful Plan under the DNR aims to conserve and restore at least 30% of
the State's lands and waters by 2030.1 According to testimony before the Senate Committee
on Natural Resources and Agriculture, equitable access to conserved land is valuable for the
State's residents, and natural areas are important for recreation and the State's tourism
industry. Some believe that to support the plan, the DNR needs legislative direction and
funding, and so it has been suggested to provide such standards.
Legislative Analyst: Eleni Lionas
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have an indeterminate negative fiscal impact on the DNR. Initial impacts would
include administrative costs of developing and updating the legacy plan as outlined within the
bill. Additional, likely significant costs would be incurred while implementing the
aforementioned legacy plan in an effort to conserve 30% of the State’s land and water by
2030. Currently, approximately 24% of the State’s land area is protected and 19% of its water
is protected.
Date Completed: 12-18-24 Fiscal Analyst: Jonah Houtz
1"Michigan the Beautiful", DNR https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/mtb. Retrieved
12-18-24.
floor\hb1124 Bill Analysis @ www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not
constitute an official statement of legislative intent.


Statutes affected:
Substitute (S-1): 324.503
Senate Introduced Bill: 324.503