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Bill Summary · SB 817

SB 817 — Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund & FY 2023–24 Capital Outlay (Public Act 135 of 2024)

Status: Enacted as Public Act 135 of 2024 (approved Oct 8, 2024; effective Oct 8, 2024). Sponsor (original): Senator John Cherry. (Multiple legislative versions and amendments appear in the record; summary below reflects the enacted public act and associated nonpartisan analyses.)

Main purpose

Appropriate Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) monies for FY 2023–24 to fund a board-recommended package of land acquisition and park/recreation development projects, authorize a small community‑college construction authorization, and set related administrative provisions.

Key provisions and dollar amounts

  • Appropriates $27,339,100 from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund for 53 projects (18 acquisition projects and 35 development projects).
    • Acquisition funding from MNRTF: $17,518,500 (18 projects).
    • Development funding from MNRTF: $9,820,600 (35 projects).
    • Local/other matching funds: $34,212,500 — yielding total project costs of $61,551,600.
  • Includes a $100 GF/GP entry for a community‑college construction authorization (Grand Rapids Community College Learning Resource Center/Library Learning Commons). The total project cost for that construction authorization is $35.0 million (state share $16.8 million; college share $18.2 million); the enacted act records $100 GF/GP for the authorization process.
  • Senate versions also authorized spending of a $3.6 million private grant for the Straits State Park interpretive/meeting building (the House omitted that authorization in some reports; enacted language funds and authorizes projects as listed in the enacted act).

Administrative/boilerplate items

  • Sec. 301: Requires local units of government or qualifying nonprofits to enter into agreements with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for grant administration and specifies required terms.
  • Sec. 302: Authorizes unexpended MNRTF funding to be carried forward consistent with the Management and Budget Act.
  • Sec. 303: Allows prior appropriations to lapse once projects are completed or terminated.
  • Additional enacted language addresses State Building Authority lease/authorization mechanics for the community college project.

Who is affected

  • Department of Natural Resources (administration, project oversight).
  • Local units of government and qualifying nonprofits receiving MNRTF grants (20+ counties and municipalities named among projects).
  • Grand Rapids Community College (construction authorization).
  • General public — benefits from land acquisitions, park expansions, trail and water access improvements.
  • MNRTF fund accounting/management (limits on annual expendable amounts governed by constitutional provisions).

Context and fiscal impact

  • The MNRTF is funded by constitutionally directed revenues (and currently limited to interest/earnings and carryforwards after the fund reached prior caps). For FY 2022–23 revenue there was ~$32.2M available for expenditure; the enacted appropriation allocates ~54.5% of available funds to acquisition and ~30.5% to development, with the remainder for operating costs (PILT and fees).
  • Appropriation leverages about $34.2M in non‑state matching funds for a total of ~$61.6M in project investment.
  • The community college construction authorization carries future rental/debt-service implications tied to the State Building Authority financing (annual GF/GP debt service estimate provided in analyses).

Notable projects (examples)

  • Black River Ranch acquisition (Cheboygan County): $18,000,000 total cost; MNRTF portion $3,000,000 (large land/habitat protection).
  • Multiple local park, trail, marina, and water-access projects across counties (e.g., Lexington harbor, Clinton River buffer acquisitions, numerous trail developments).

If you want, I can: (a) produce a searchable list of all 53 projects and their grant amounts, (b) extract the exact enacted statutory section text for Secs. 301–303, or (c) map which localities receive funding.

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

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