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HB 5804

Land use: planning; Michigan planning enabling act; allow for alternate members to serve on the commission. Amends sec. 15 of 2008 PA 33 (MCL 125.3815).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brian BeGole and 1 co-sponsor

HB 5804 allows up to 3 alternate planning commissioners who have voting rights to backfill absences or conflicts, increasing flexibility and representation.

bill electronically reproduced 04/16/2026
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Bill Summary · HB 5804

Summary of HB 5804 (2025-2026) — Michigan

Legislative purpose

HB 5804 proposes an amendment to the Michigan Planning Enabling Act (2008 PA 33), specifically amending section 15 (MCL 125.3815), as amended by 2024 PA 153. The bill focuses on allowing for alternate members to serve on planning commissions and clarifies appointment, term, and representation requirements to support planning activities at the local government level.

Key provisions and changes

  • Appointment and authority (current framework retained):

    • In municipalities, the chief elected official appoints planning commission members, subject to approval by a majority vote of the elected and serving legislative body.
    • In counties, the county board of commissioners determines appointment method by resolution.

  • Composition and terms of the planning commission (general rules):

    • City/township/village planning commissions: 5, 7, or 9 regular members.
    • County planning commissions: 5, 7, 9, or 11 regular members.
    • Regular members (non-ex officio) are typically appointed to 3-year terms.
    • A mechanism exists to stagger terms so that roughly one-third of members’ terms expire each year, with vacancies filled for the unexpired term.

  • Representation and qualifications:

    • Commissions should reflect important community segments (economic, governmental, educational, social development) and the broader interests of the local unit (agriculture, natural resources, recreation, health, housing, commerce, etc.).
    • Members must be qualified electors of the local unit, with limited exceptions allowing non-electors from specific small-population municipalities to serve if they are electors of another local unit.

  • Ex officio members:

    • Provisions for ex officio members (e.g., chief elected official, chief administrative official, members of the legislative body) are outlined, including term lengths and limits on ex officio representation (generally not more than one-third of the commission).
    • Elected/officer affiliations generally exclude eligibility to serve as regular members, with defined term correlations.

  • Alternate members (new emphasis):

    • The bill explicitly authorizes the appointing authority to appoint up to 3 alternate members to the planning commission.
    • Alternate members have the same voting rights as regular members.
    • Alternates may be called to fill in for regular members who are absent or to participate when a regular member has a conflict of interest, and they serve in the matter until a final decision is made.

  • Counterpart procedural provisions:

    • The legislative body retains authority to remove members for misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance after a public hearing.
    • Conflict of interest disclosures are required before voting on potentially conflicted matters; failure to disclose can constitute malfeasance.

Who is affected

  • Local governments in Michigan (cities, villages, townships, and counties) with planning commissions.
  • Potential planning commissioners, including regular and alternate members.
  • Elected officials and the administrative officials who appoint planning commission members.
  • The public, through planning commissions that may include alternates to ensure quorums and broader representation.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • The bill is introduced in 2026 and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
  • If enacted, the changes would apply to future planning commission appointments and term schedules, including the addition of alternate members and related voting rights and appointment processes.
  • The act maintains existing staggered-term concepts and ex officio rules while adding flexibility via alternate membership.

Overall, HB 5804 enhances flexibility and representation on Michigan planning commissions by formalizing and expanding the role of alternate members while preserving core appointment and qualification standards.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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