OurMichiganParks.org

The last three bills — SB 389, SB 1057, and HB 4677 – in a four-bill package for state park funding have passed the House today. They are headed to the Senate where they may be voted on as soon as tomorrow.

Please contact your State Senator and ask that they support these bills.

HB 5752 passed the Senate last week, was ordered enrolled and was presented to the Governor.

Senate Bills 389 and 1057 and House Bill 4677 will come up for a final vote in the State House of Representatives tomorrow, Wednesday, March 24th!  The first bill in the package, House Bill 5752 passsed last week.

If you care about Michigan’s state parks, forest recreation areas and trails and their contribution to Michigan’s tourism economy, today and tomorrow morning is the time to call your state representative and ask them to support this legislation.

The passport will drop state park annual fees by 60% and allow a convenient, individual option that people will be able to partake of when they register their vehicle every year.  By having more people participate, it is expected that enough revenue will come in to maintain and improve our state park infrastructure and award small grants to local community recreation projects.

Thanks to the champions of this legislation: Senator Patricia Birkholz, Senator Raymond Basham, Representative Rebekah Warren, and Rep. Arlan Meekhof.

Let’s give this package one last push!  Call your State Representative today!  You can go to www.michiganlegislature.org for contact information for your particular legislator.

Senate Bills 388 and 389, also known as the recreation passport bills have passed the Michigan Senate and reported out of House committee. They need to be voted on by the entire House. We believe we have the votes, but the Speaker Andy Dillon is not letting it go to a vote.

We need Michigan residents to call him, especially those within his district, annd ask that he call for a vote on Senate Bills 388 and 389. His phone number is 517.373.0857.

It might take a minute but it means preserving our state parks for generations to come.

The Recreation Passport legislation, Senate Bills 388 & 389 , were adopted by the full Senate this morning with a vote of 24-11 and  23-12 respectively. Now these bills go to the full House for a vote in the near future.

This is a BIG step forward for sustainable state park funding!