MUNICIPAL FOREST PRIME LAND

House Bill 5648

Sponsor:  Rep. Michael Lahti

Committee:  Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources

Complete to 1-28-08

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5648 AS INTRODUCED 1-22-08

Part 527 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) permits the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Treasury to sell certain land to be used solely for forestry purposes to municipalities (counties, villages, townships, cities, and school districts), with the requirement that when such land is no longer used for forestry purposes, it reverts to the state.  This public policy dates back to 1931.  However, recent amendments to Part 527 removed the state's reversionary interest in parcels of municipal forestland except for land considered to be "prime land." 

Section 52706 of NREPA contains a definition of prime land, which among other things includes land that (1) is within a boundary of a program administered by the DNR or (2) provides access to a public body of water.

House Bill 5648 would amend that section of the act to specify that if prime land is partitioned or split, a resulting parcel would not be considered prime land (under the definition cited above) unless the resulting parcel independently meets one of the two criteria cited above (namely, being within a boundary of a DNR program or providing access to a public body or water).

MCL 324.52706

FISCAL IMPACT:

This bill would not have a fiscal impact on the state or on local governmental units.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Chris Couch

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Kirk Lindquist

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.