Updates from around the Basin, June 2026

Michigan Passes Local Conservation Legislation: In May, Michigan House Bills 4694, 4695 and 4798, sponsored by GLLC member Rep. Gregory Markkanen, passed both chambers of the Legislature and were signed by the governor. These bills will allow local communities to create authorities that protect forests and recreational areas. Additionally, the bills will make it easier for municipalities to receive state funding for land preservation and land access.

Wisconsin Takes on PFAS: In April, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed Acts 200 and 201, (sponsored by Reps. Jeffery Mursau and Rob Swearingen) which create and fund grant programs to help combat PFAS, specifically in drinking water. These new programs come on the heels of Wisconsin tightening its PFAS standards. In March, the state decreased maximum contaminants levels for PFAS in water from 70 ppt to 4 ppt, putting the state’s requirement in line with forthcoming federal standards.