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HB 4641MICHIGANSession 2025-2026State Billin committee

Michigan bill would repeal the Upper Peninsula prohibition against establishing dark sky preserves

Original title: Recreation: local parks; prohibition against dark sky preserve in the Upper Peninsula; remove.

Last action · June 11, 2025: bill electronically reproduced 06/10/2025Sponsors: Julie Brixie and 21 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

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Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Would Do

House Bill 4641 would eliminate the legal restriction that prevents the establishment of any in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The measure alters section 75102 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act of 1994.

Why it matters

The change removes a geographic restriction that applies across the entire Upper Peninsula, altering where state or local entities are legally permitted to establish protected dark sky areas.

Background

Dark sky preserves in Michigan are publicly owned lands managed to protect nighttime darkness and reduce light pollution. context

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.

Directly affected

Upper Peninsula residents

Upper Peninsula residents become eligible to have state or local public lands within their region designated as dark sky preserves.

Directly affected

Local governments in the Upper Peninsula

County and municipal authorities gain the legal ability to pursue dark sky preserve designations for eligible local public lands.

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

Does this bill create a new dark sky preserve in the Upper Peninsula?

No. The bill removes the legal ban preventing the establishment of s in the Upper Peninsula, but it does not designate any new specific location.

Does the bill change any existing dark sky preserves currently listed in the law?

No. It leaves the current list of designated state and county s unchanged while striking the restriction against adding locations in the Upper Peninsula.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

4 actions

Jun 11, 2025House
bill electronically reproduced 06/10/2025
Jun 10, 2025HouseCommittee
referred to Committee on Government Operations
Jun 10, 2025HouseIntroduced
read a first time
Jun 10, 2025HouseIntroduced
introduced by Representative Rep. Julie Brixie

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.

Connected Entities

Dr. T. K. Lawless Park, Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Thompson's Harbor State Park and 5 more

locationDr. T. K. Lawless Park“County-owned land comprising a designated dark sky preserve”Map →

locationHeadlands International Dark Sky Park“County-owned land comprising a designated dark sky preserve”Map →

locationThompson's Harbor State Park“State-owned land comprising a designated dark sky preserve”Map →

locationRockport State Recreation Area“State-owned land comprising a designated dark sky preserve”Map →

locationPort Crescent State Park“State-owned land designated as a dark sky preserve”Map →

locationLake Hudson“Location of state-owned land designated as a dark sky preserve”Map →

locationWilderness State Park“State-owned land comprising a designated dark sky preserve”Map →

locationNegwegon State Park“State-owned land comprising a designated dark sky preserve”Map →

Sources

Open source document

legislature.mi.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance35
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy15
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level

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