Bill
SB 1116
Creates a Strategic and Operational Advisory Board to develop a 10-year state economic plan and annual updates, coordinating across agencies for Michigan growth.
Status: POSTPONED TEMPORARILY (tie‑barred with SB 1117)
Introduced: November 14, 2024 (Sen. Mallory McMorrow); substitute (S‑1) reported 12/13/2024. (Record provided includes subsequent procedural entries.)
Purpose
- Establish a permanent, statewide planning requirement for coordinated economic development by creating a Strategic and Operational Advisory Board (via companion SB 1117) and requiring development of a multi‑year strategic plan and an operational plan to guide Michigan economic development activities.
Key provisions
- Creation of plans
- Requires the Strategic and Operational Advisory Board (the “Board”) to develop, within 1 year after Board members are appointed, both:
- a 10‑year strategic economic development plan for the state; and
- an operational plan for implementing the strategy.
- Requires annual updates to the strategic and operational plans (S‑1 version specifies updates by September 30 each year after completion; earlier versions referenced May 1 annual reporting).
- Plan contents (detailed list)
- Specific, measurable goals and performance metrics anchored to population growth and resident prosperity.
- Goals to cover broad priorities including: economic opportunity, incentives for natural‑resource industries, rural/suburban/urban development, infrastructure needs, affordable housing, water availability, compact development, environmental protection, conservation, tourism and historic resources, public safety, education and workforce training, higher education coordination.
- Whole‑of‑government strategies including inventories and assessments of: infrastructure (transportation, water/wastewater, public health, corrections, education, solid waste), economic base and labor force, affordable housing, agricultural/forestry viability, long‑range transportation needs, natural and cultural resources (including groundwater and watersheds).
- Identification and definition of up to five key regions for coordinated regional strategies and collaboration.
- Identification/analysis of state strategic assets and a proposed structure for a state‑led entity to serve regional goals.
- Reporting and publication
- Requires the MEDC (or the Board/MEDC per version) to compile an annual report on the plans, submit it to the Governor and designated House and Senate committees, and publish it on the MSF or MEDC website (S‑1 specifies annual update/report by Sept. 30; earlier draft referenced May 1, 2026 for the first report).
- Governance, transparency, meetings
- Board created within the Michigan Strategic Fund (SB 1117). Membership includes state agency directors (or designees), MEDC CEO (or designee), numerous regional and statewide economic development organizations, business associations, and academic experts (large enumerated list). Certain national experts/site‑selection consultants serve as nonvoting members.
- Appointment schedule: Governor appoints first members (statutory staging of initial staggered terms in SB 1117); Board subject to Open Meetings Act and FOIA.
- Members serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses.
- Quorum and majority vote required for Board actions.
- Authority and scope
- The Board is directed to develop the plans and may take actions necessary to achieve the plan goals; it may recommend or coordinate state programs and incentives consistent with the strategic/operational plans.
Who is affected
- State entities: Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF), Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), multiple state departments (EGLE, MDOT, DNR, DHHS, LEO, MDARD, Education, MiLEAP, MSHDA), and local/regional economic development organizations.
- Local governments, businesses, residents and regions: plans target statewide economic development, infrastructure, housing, workforce development, and regional competitiveness.
- Fiscal: MSF (indeterminate negative impact); Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to incur staff/support costs. Estimated advisory‑council support costs typically range $10,000–$200,000 annually (likely absorbable within existing appropriations).
Procedural notes / variants
- SB 1116 is tie‑barred to SB 1117 (which establishes Board membership and structure). The bill went through substitute (S‑1) revisions—S‑1 emphasizes a 10‑year strategic plan and sets Sept. 30 annual update deadlines. Earlier committee language referenced an initial deadline/report due May 1, 2026.
- The legislative record provided shows multiple motions, committee reports with substitute (S‑1) favorably reported (12/13/2024), motions to postpone, and a procedural status of POSTPONED TEMPORARILY. Fiscal and policy analyses were prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff.
Implications
- Establishes a statutory requirement for long‑range, cross‑agency, regionally aware economic planning intended to provide consistency and transparency for businesses and communities.
- Formalizes an advisory body with broad public‑private membership to shape statewide economic development priorities and recommend operational actions.
- Implementation will require staff support, interagency coordination, and ongoing reporting obligations for MEDC and the Board.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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