Bill Text: MI HB6431 | 2025-2026 | 103rd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Natural resources: floodplains; predisaster flood resilience grant program; establish. Amends 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.101 - 324.90106) by adding secs. 33709, 33710 & 33711.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-10-21 - Bill Electronically Reproduced 10/14/2026 [HB6431 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2025-HB6431-Introduced.html
HOUSE BILL NO. 6431
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled
"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"
(MCL 324.101 to 324.90106) by adding sections 33709, 33710, and 33711.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 33709. As used in this section and sections 33710 to 33711:
(a) "Department" means the department of environment, Great Lakes, and energy.
(b) "Eligible applicant" includes any of the following:
(i) A local unit of government.
(ii) A federally recognized tribe.
(iii) A nonprofit organization or private consulting organization that applies for a grant on behalf of an entity under subparagraphs (i) or (ii).
(c) "Local unit of government" means a county, city, village, or township.
(d) "Program" means the predisaster flood resilience grant program created in section 33710.
Sec. 33710. (1) The department shall create and implement the predisaster flood resilience grant program to provide grants to eligible applicants to identify flood vulnerabilities and options to improve flood resiliency and restore hydrology. The department may award grants for projects to do 1 or more of the following:
(a) Conduct assessments to understand flood flows and erosion hazards and vulnerabilities.
(b) Identify opportunities to increase flood resilience and restore wetland, stream, and floodplain hydrology.
(c) Develop culvert inventories.
(d) Conduct hydrologic and hydraulic studies.
(e) Implement a restoration project that is identified or designed through an activity described under subdivisions (a) to (d).
(2) To apply for a grant issued under the program, an eligible applicant shall submit an application on a form and in a manner prescribed by the department. An application for a grant must include both of the following:
(a) Written documentation that indicates that the governing body of the local unit of government or federally recognized tribe has authorized participation in the project.
(b) A description of how the project costs not covered by the grant will be funded and details on the sources for that funding.
(3) Not later than 10 days after an application under subsection (2) is received, the department shall determine if the application is complete. If the department determines that the application is not complete, the department shall send written notice to the eligible applicant that details what information is necessary to make the application complete. Not later than 10 days after the eligible applicant receives the written notice under this subsection, the eligible applicant shall submit the information to the department. If the department determines that an application is complete, the department shall determine whether to award a grant to the eligible applicant not later than 30 days after the application is determined to be complete.
(4) The department shall issue grants under this section in 1 of the following amounts, as applicable:
(a) For a grant for a project described under subsection (1)(a) to (d), an amount not more than 75% of the anticipated projected costs of the project or $300,000.00, whichever is less.
(b) For a grant for an implementation project described under subsection (1)(e), an amount not more than 75% of the anticipated projected costs of the project or $250,000.00, whichever is less.
(5) An eligible applicant that is issued a grant under the program shall comply with both of the following:
(a) Utilize the grant funds within 2 years after the grant is issued.
(b) Not later than 90 days after completing the grant project or not later than 2 years after the grant money is received, whichever occurs first, submit a report to the department that summarizes the project goals, the activities conducted with the grant funds, and data that demonstrates progress toward the overall project goals.
(6) The department shall post on the department's website a report submitted under subsection (5)(b).
Sec. 33711. (1) The department shall promulgate rules in accordance with the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328 to implement the program. The rules must include the following:
(a) Standards for reviewing grant applications submitted under section 33710 that include, but are not limited to, the following considerations:
(i) Whether the project area or a part of the project area was declared by the President of the United States as the site of a major disaster or emergency within the 10 years immediately before the application was submitted.
(ii) Whether the project area or a part of the project area was declared a state of disaster or state of emergency under the emergency management act, 1976 PA 390, MCL 30.401 to 30.421.
(iii) The extent to which the project area is subject to, or is upstream from areas that are subject to, repetitive flooding and erosion damage.
(iv) The extent to which the project is cost-effective.
(v) The extent to which the project can demonstrate measurable results.
(vi) The extent to which the project will generate data useful for updates to hazard mitigation plans, land and water resource management plans, and other local watershed plans, as applicable.
(vii) Other criteria that prioritize projects with beneficial impacts.
(b) Grant application requirements, including, but not limited to, project narratives, scopes of work, budgeting information, supporting documentation, and project timelines.
(2) Not later than July 1, 2027, and by each July 1 thereafter, the department shall submit a report to the governor and the senate and house of representatives standing committees on natural resources and the environment that includes the following information for the preceding year:
(a) A description of program activities and accomplishments.
(b) A list of grant recipients and grants awarded, including the amount of each grant.
(c) Recommendations on continuing the program and funding levels.
