HB 6163 (Michigan) — Summary
Purpose and scope
- The bill adds Part 151 to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (1994 PA 451) to establish a statewide microplastics research and monitoring plan for the Michigan Great Lakes.
- Primary sponsor and introduction: Rep. Hood, et al. The bill was introduced November 26, 2024 and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation; a later status shows a January 22, 2025 introduction date and referral to the Joint Committee on Judiciary.
What the bill would do
- Mandate development of a comprehensive statewide plan to understand microplastics’ scale and risks to human health, the Great Lakes, and drinking water; and to identify feasible solutions.
- Create a framework for research, monitoring, and policy recommendations, to be implemented by the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE) in collaboration with other state agencies and eligible research institutions.
Key provisions and requirements (Part 151)
- Partnerships and contracting:
- DEGLE may contract with Michigan universities and research institutions (examples listed include Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Wayne State University, among others) to conduct research contributing to the plan.
- Plan content and methodologies:
- Strategies to identify and evaluate ecological, health, and economic impacts of microplastics in the Michigan Great Lakes.
- Sampling, detection, and characterization methods aligned with established standards (peer-reviewed science or agencies such as the International Joint Commission, EPA, NOAA, or ASTM International) and performed without private corporate involvement.
- Baseline inventory of microplastic concentrations with assessment of environmental and human health impacts; consideration of actionable near-term solutions; and evaluation of factors like particle age, size, shape, type, and location.
- Alignment with best practices and actions taken by other Great Lakes states and Canada; investigation of microplastic sources and pathways; development of a long-term, publicly accessible research plan with annual updates; ongoing strategy for reducing microplastics.
- A risk assessment framework consistent with best available science, focusing on exposure to organisms, including humans.
- Research on approaches to reduce microplastics entering the Great Lakes from major pathways and sources.
- Policy and statutory recommendation components, plus near-term action recommendations (source elimination, pathway intervention, public education).
- A timeline for implementing the plan and reducing impacts; identification of implementation barriers with estimated costs and potential funding sources.
- Implementation and funding:
- Leverages existing information and federal/state efforts where feasible.
- Timeline for reporting to the Legislature: plan by July 1, 2026; implementation report by January 30, 2029.
- Funding: subject to availability of bonds, federal funds, and other sources; plan adoption and implementation intended by July 1, 2028, to the extent funds are available.
- Definitions:
- “Department” = DEGLE.
- “Microplastics” = solid polymeric materials with at least 3 dimensions, <5 mm in size, excluding naturally derived polymers that are not chemically modified.
- References to the International Joint Commission and other standard-setting bodies for methodology.
Who is affected
- State agencies (through DEGLE leadership) and the state’s environmental governance framework.
- Michigan universities and research institutions that may engage as contractors.
- Public health and environmental communities via improved data, monitoring, and potential policy actions.
- Michigan residents concerned with drinking water quality, ecosystem health, and environmental policy.
Timetable and procedural notes
- Deadlines: plan submission to the Legislature by July 1, 2026; implementation report by January 30, 2029.
- Funding contingent on bonds and other sources (including federal funds); full implementation targeted by July 1, 2028, if funds are available.
Impact focus
- Establishes a structured, transparent approach to understanding and reducing microplastics in the Great Lakes.
- Aims to standardize methods, create baseline data, and align Michigan with broader Great Lakes and Canadian efforts.
- Could inform future regulatory actions, public education, and investment decisions related to plastic pollution and drinking water protection.
