Summary — HB 4783 (2025)
Status: Enacted; signed by Governor 6/20/2025; effective 9/1/2025
Statute amended: 1994 PA 451, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act — sections 48701, 48703, and 48703a (MCL 324.48701, 324.48703, 324.48703a).
Introduced: 3/13/2025. Primary sponsor metadata: VanDeaver; introduced in House by Reps. Bohnak, Prestin, Markkanen, Fairbairn, Rigas, Borton, BeGole, Outman, Cavitt, Neyer, Roth, Beson, Alexander and Martin. Tie-bar: HB 4784, HB 4785, HB 4786 (2025). Companion: SB 2378.
Main purpose / intent
HB 4783 amends portions of Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to (1) clarify and revise many statutory definitions related to fish and fishing, (2) define “waters of the Upper Peninsula,” and (3) shift/clarify decision‑making roles and procedures concerning fish management (including trout stream designation) with respect to the newly defined Upper Peninsula waters and the Upper Peninsula Natural Resources Commission.
Key provisions and changes
- Definitions (MCL 324.48701)
- Adds or clarifies multiple definitions used in the fisheries part of the act, including: amphibian, crustacea, dip net, hand net, mollusks, nongame fish, resident/nonresident, trout lake/stream, and others.
- Adds a definition of “genetically engineered” fish and of “recombinant nucleic acid techniques,” providing statutory clarity for fish whose genomes have been permanently modified.
- Adds a new definition “Waters of the Upper Peninsula,” explicitly identifying:
- Lake Superior,
- the St. Marys River, and
- any inland lake, stream, river, pond, or other body of water located in the Upper Peninsula.
- Trout stream designation and related procedures
- Clarifies the department’s role in designating trout streams and sets procedural steps requiring the department to submit proposed designation orders to the (state) commission, and to receive public comment. The commission may provide guidance on proposed orders and the department may revise orders based on that guidance. (Text retains a cap on miles of certain trout-stream designations — e.g., “not more than 212 miles” — and retains protections for children under 12.)
- Fishing methods and prohibitions (MCL 324.48703)
- Reaffirms and clarifies prohibited gear and methods for taking fish (e.g., snagging devices, explosives, nets, firearms) and limits on lines/rods/hooks; language in the introduced text edits form and wording of several definitions and prohibitions. (Full section text was truncated in the provided document.)
Who is affected
- Anglers and recreational fishers in Michigan (particularly in the Upper Peninsula).
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) — procedural duties for trout-stream designations and interactions with commissions.
- Upper Peninsula Natural Resources Commission (authority expanded or clarified to receive and give guidance on fisheries orders affecting UP waters).
- Commercial/charter fishing operators and businesses dependent on fisheries regulations.
- Entities working with genetically engineered fish (clarified statutory definitions may affect regulatory or permitting processes).
Procedure / timeline highlights
- Legislative process: introduced 3/13/2025; passed both chambers in May 2025; enrolled and sent to Governor; signed 6/20/2025.
- Effective date: September 1, 2025.
- The bill is tie‑barred with three related House bills (HB 4784, HB 4785, HB 4786) and has a Senate companion, SB 2378.
Practical effect
HB 4783 primarily revises statutory definitions and clarifies the geographic scope and governance processes for fisheries management in the Upper Peninsula, including formalizing the “waters of the Upper Peninsula” and reinforcing a consultative role for the commission in certain department orders (notably trout-stream designations). The added definitions for “genetically engineered” fish create clearer statutory language that could affect future regulation or permitting relating to genetically modified fish.
