Bill requiring DNR to grant municipal requests for lakes without public access advances

This week, the Senate Local Government Committee reported Senate Bill 526, sponsored by Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Bloomfield Twp.) and supported by MTA, to expand local control of lakes without public access. SB 526 would amend Part 801 (Marine Safety) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to approve a local government request for a special rule on a body of water if the request were supported by 75% or more of the properties with riparian rights. The bill only applies to bodies of water controlled by the requesting local government that do not have public access. SB 526 now moves to the full Senate for further consideration.