2013 Senate Bill 51 / Public Act 42

Expand forest property tax breaks

Introduced in the Senate

Jan. 16, 2013

Introduced by Sen. Darwin Booher (R-35)

To expand the eligibility for certain forest property tax breaks, increase the size of the tax breaks to owners, double the number of acres eligible for the tax breaks from 1.2 million to 2.4 million statewide, authorize a new 2 mill property tax on property in this program that would go to proposed "Private Forestland Enhancement Fund" to subsidize private forestland management activities, and revise other details of this tax break program.

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, Environment, and Great Lakes

Feb. 5, 2013

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Feb. 7, 2013

Substitute offered

The substitute passed by voice vote

Feb. 12, 2013

Passed in the Senate 35 to 0 (details)

Received in the House

Feb. 12, 2013

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

March 6, 2013

Reported without amendment

Without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.

May 22, 2013

Substitute offered by Rep. Andrea LaFontaine (R-32)

To adopt a version of the bill that among other changes does not double the number of acres eligible for these tax breaks, but does increase eligibility by means of new exemptions from an existing 1.2 million acre cap.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Vicki Barnett (D-37)

To move back the date the bill goes into effect.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Brandon Dillon (D-75)

To require the legislature to reimburse local school districts for any foregone tax revenue resulting from these tax breaks.

The amendment failed by voice vote

May 23, 2013

Passed in the House 79 to 28 (details)

To expand certain exemptions to a state wetland permit mandate, increase some wetland permit fees and reduce others, require permit denials to document their rationale and authority, authorize grants to local governments to create “wetland mitigation banks,” slightly reduce wetland regulatory burdens imposed on county drain commission projects, slightly increase the state's burden to justify restrictions on an owner's use of his or her property, prohibit the Department of Environmental Quality from imposing regulations that are beyond the scope those required by federal law, and make other changes to these land use restrictions.

Received in the Senate

May 28, 2013

May 29, 2013

Passed in the Senate 36 to 0 (details)

To concur with the House-passed version of the bill.

Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder

June 6, 2013