Michigan Legislature passes budget, DNR highlights

Early Friday, morning, the Michigan Legislature approved a budget for the 2026 fiscal year. The two chambers and the governor agreed to a deal earlier this week and passed a stopgap to keep the state government open while work on the omnibus bill was finalized. 

The DNR budget is highlighted by some minor cuts, and new boilerplate language: 

• No license fee increases were included 
• No recreation passport opt-out was included 
• Nature awaits program was removed as an on-going program 
• Reduces 4.0 FTE positions for Fish Production and 15.0 FTE positions for Fisheries Resource Management 
• Reduces 20.0 FTE positions and $200,000 for Wildlife Management 
• Reduces invasive species prevention and control by $1.2 million 
• Appropriates $2.8 million GF/GP (one-time) for fish production and stocking in Great Lakes and inland fisheries 
• Reduces wetland restoration, enhancement, and acquisition funding by $1 million. 
• In-person work prioritization 
• New DNR scorecard and reporting requirements 
• Prohibition on utility scale solar and wind projects on public lands 
• An authorization to increase restricted fund appropriations if a license fee bill is passed

The House Fiscal Analysis of the budget can be found HERE. 

To ensure our natural resources remain protected and managed thoughtfully, and our outdoor heritage defended, join Michigan United Conservation Clubs today:  http://bit.ly/JoinMUCC.