The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Michigan SB 526 streamlines local watercraft rule approvals for lakes without public access
Last action · September 30, 2026: REFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLESponsor: Jeremy Moss
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What This Bill Would Do
Michigan Senate Bill 526 requires state regulators to automatically grant local watercraft rule requests for lakes without public access when backed by a petition from 75% or more of riparian property owners. For other water bodies, the bill updates the department investigation process and hearing procedures for local ordinance requests.
Riparian property owners on private lakes or lakes lacking public access gain a direct path to establish local water ordinances without undergoing a full state investigation, altering how boating and vessel rules are enacted for those bodies of water.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
riparian property owners
Property owners possessing riparian rights on lakes without public access can petition to secure local watercraft rules without undergoing standard state investigations.
political subdivisions
Local governments gain the ability to adopt ordinances directly upon state grant for private access lakes and follow updated inquiry and hearing procedures for other waters.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a lake has no public access and residents want a watercraft rule?
What factors does the department evaluate when investigating a special watercraft rule?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- Sep 30, 2026SenateCommitteeREFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
- Sep 30, 2026SenateCommitteeREPORTED FAVORABLY WITHOUT AMENDMENT 9/22/2026
- Sep 4, 2025SenateCommitteeREFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- Sep 4, 2025SenateIntroducedINTRODUCED BY SENATOR JEREMY MOSS
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.mi.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
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