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HB 4822

Natural resources: other; natural resources commission; require to live stream all meetings. Amends sec. 501 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.501).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Greg Alexander and 24 co-sponsors

HB 4822 requires the Michigan Natural Resources Commission to live-stream all public meetings and keep a searchable online archive for public access.

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Bill Summary · HB 4822

HB 4822 — Require live video of Natural Resources Commission meetings (amends MCL 324.501)

Status: Referred to second reading (reported with substitute H-1, 11/05/2025)
Introduced: Filed 03/13/2025; reintroduced 08/27/2025
Primary sponsor: Rep. Parker Fairbairn (many cosponsors)
Statutory authority amended: Section 501 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (1994 PA 451) — MCL 324.501
Companion: SB 2335

Purpose

HB 4822 requires the Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) to make live video of all public NRC meetings available to the public and to maintain an accessible archive of past meetings. The bill is intended to increase public access and transparency of NRC proceedings.

Key provisions

  • Adds a requirement to MCL 324.501 that the NRC shall:
    • Provide live video streaming of all public commission meetings (substitute H-1 uses the phrase “provide live video streaming”; the introduced version used “conduct a live video conference”).
    • Publish the viewing link on the NRC website no less than 24 hours before the meeting begins.
    • Make recordings of past meetings available on the NRC website.
    • Maintain a publicly available archive of all past meetings that is organized and searchable by date and subject matter.
  • Preserves existing requirements that NRC meetings be public and held in compliance with the Michigan Open Meetings Act (1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261–15.275). The commission must meet at least once each month.

Who would be affected

  • Primary: The Natural Resources Commission and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which would be responsible for implementing live streaming and maintaining the archives.
  • Secondary: Members of the public, stakeholders, media, and local governments who rely on access to NRC meetings. No direct change to authority, membership, terms, or duties of commissioners beyond the transparency requirements.

Fiscal impact

  • The House Fiscal Agency estimates HB 4822 may increase DNR costs to equip meeting locations for live streaming and to host/maintain archived videos. The magnitude is uncertain and depends on chosen technology and locations.
  • Context: NRC funding noted at $77,100 Gross ($27,800 GF/GP) in FY 2025–26; total DNR appropriations cited at $543.2 million Gross ($73.0 million GF/GP) with 2,515.2 FTEs for FY 2025–26. Bill is not expected to directly affect departmental revenue or local government revenues/costs.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Filed 03/13/2025; read first time 04/03/2025; withdrawn from schedule 04/09/2025. Reproduced/introduced again 08/27/2025.
  • Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism reported the bill with substitute H-1 on 11/05/2025; referred to second reading thereafter.
  • If passed, the statutory amendment would modify the NRC’s duties under MCL 324.501 to include the streaming and archiving requirements.

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

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