To: All MRPA Members
From: MRPA Public Policy Committee
Subject: Senate Bill 248
Action Requested: Please contact your State Representative on Monday, December 12 (today!) regarding SB248
MRPA Public Policy has recently been informed that Senate Bill 248 is now in the House Committee on Natural Resources, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation . The Committee is scheduled to take a vote on the bill this Tuesday, December 13 (view members of the committee by clicking here ).
We are encouraging all MRPA members to contact their State Representative TODAY regarding Senate Bill 248.
The bill currently being considered by the Committee has several revisions from the original bill, but even with the changes, Senate Bill 248 presents many challenges. The bill, as originally presented, would cap the amount of public land administered by the Michigan DNR at 4.65 million acres. (There are some exemptions included in the revisions). The bill as presented would also require any tax reverted land for sale by the department not sold after 9 months to be offered at a public auction and sold to the highest qualified bidder representing a reasonable price, not taking into consideration the fair market value of the property.
MRPA Public Policy has several concerns with the bill:
1. The bill still lacks a transparent and accountable process for getting to a public land acquisition strategy. Without a process in place, there is no guarantee that the status quo will not continue. In our opinion, a long-term strategy that is transparent and accountable is needed.
2. The bill does not take into account regional and geographic differences for public land needs. The Upper Peninsula contains nearly 50% of public land in the state of Michigan, while southern Michigan, where the majority of the state's recreating population resides, contains merely 4% of Michigan's public land.
3. The bill has no benefit for sportsmen and women. As outdoor groups continue to advocate for policies that will create enhanced access to the outdoors for Michigan residents, placing a cap to dictate what public lands can be available, without guiding the Department of Natural Resources to make strategic choices, is not a step in the right direction.
4. Acres of state land sold below fair market value could have a chilling, if not devastating, effect on local property values.
Please consider contacting your State Representative today to express your concerns with Senate Bill 248 as it is currently being presented. F
ind your State Representative by clicking here.
MRPA Public Policy Committee
Tim McCaffrey, Chair