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HB 4695

Local government: authorities; revisions to the recreational authorities act; provide for. Amends secs. 1 & 3 of 2000 PA 321 (MCL 123.1131 & 123.1133). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4694'25

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Greg Markkanen

HB 4695 broadens authority to manage public forests and natural resources, allowing land sales, endowments, PILOTs, and carbon credit activities under expanded recreation/natural r

presented to the Governor 05/12/2026 04:34 PM
#localgovernment:authorities #recreation:other
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Bill Summary · HB 4695

Summary — HB 4695 (Recreational Authorities and Natural Resources Authority Act)

Sponsor: Rep. Greg Markkanen
Introduced: June 26, 2025 (filed March 12, 2025)
Status: Passed House Sept. 18, 2025; referred to Committee on Local Government (Sept. 22, 2025)
Tie bar: HB 4694 (substantive changes); related: HB 4798 (Part 19/Natural Resources Trust Fund)

Purpose

HB 4695 primarily revises and expands definitions in the existing Recreational Authorities Act and renames the statute the “Recreational Authorities and Natural Resources Authority Act.” It is designed to work together with HB 4694 (which contains substantive operational changes) to broaden the kinds of public recreation and natural-resource activities recreational authorities may undertake.

Key provisions

  • Renames the act to the “Recreational Authorities and Natural Resources Authority Act.”
  • Adds and clarifies statutory definitions, including:
    • “Public forest and natural resources area” — land/water and improvements designated for recreational uses, open/scenic space, environmental/conservation/wildlife areas, forestry or natural resources management, cultural/historical resource protection, and any activities allowed as dedicated park uses (explicitly listing trails, ORV/snowmobile use, foraging, etc.).
    • Definitions for “authority,” “board,” “park,” “participating municipality,” “territory of the authority,” “electors of the authority,” “district,” “largest county,” “public historic farm,” and “swimming pool.”
  • Clarifies that participating municipalities may be whole municipalities or precinct-based “districts.”

Governance, powers, and articles

  • HB 4695 supplies definitions that support HB 4694’s expanded authority powers (e.g., sell/lease property; establish endowments; make and enforce rules; manage sustainable commercial forestry; sell carbon or environmental credits; manage property inside or outside authority territory; sue and be sued).
  • Enables articles of incorporation to include use restrictions, dissolution allocation formulas among municipalities, election format (partisan/nonpartisan), and processes for designating property as a “public forest and natural resources area.”
  • Allows articles to specify payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) formulas to affected taxing jurisdictions.

Finance and funding

  • As part of the package of bills, recreational authorities would be eligible to:
    • Levy up to 1 mill for up to 20 years to support activities (now explicitly extended to public forest and natural resources areas).
    • Borrow or issue bonds for eligible activities.
    • Seek Natural Resources Trust Fund assistance where applicable (related amendment in HB 4798).

Who is affected

  • Local governments (cities, townships, villages, counties, school districts) that establish or participate in recreational authorities.
  • Local taxing units that may receive PILOTs or be affected by authority millages.
  • Users of public lands (recreationists, conservation interests), and potential commercial partners or markets for forest products or environmental credits.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • HB 4695 is largely definitional and is tied to HB 4694 (contains substantive changes); an enacting section conditions its effectiveness on enactment of HB 4694 or a companion Senate bill.
  • Passed the Michigan House on Sept. 18, 2025 (immediate effect noted by House action) and was transmitted and referred to the Committee on Local Government on Sept. 22, 2025.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Creates a statutory basis for single municipalities to form authorities (per HB 4694) and for authorities to manage broader natural-resource lands and commercial activities (including carbon/environmental credit sales).
  • Expands local flexibility in land management, revenue generation, and conservation use—but may raise local fiscal and land-use policy considerations (taxing impacts, PILOT arrangements, permitted commercial uses, and restrictions placed in articles).

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

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