MichiganDam owners would report safety risks and keep dam plans
If Senate Bill 947 also becomes law, dam owners would keep safety plans, and the department could use appropriated money for some emergency repairs.
What it does
Dam owners would keep current plans for monitoring, operating, maintaining, and securing their dams. They would report concerning findings and safety or security incidents within 24 hours.
The department could restrict dam operations to address significant harm, or order removal if serious harm is likely to continue. For immediate danger, it could order urgent repairs or other emergency steps.
Dam owners could apply for grants for repairs, changes, removal, or related engineering work, if they provide at least 10% of the cost. Emergency fund spending would require an appropriation and an owner unable or unwilling to act.
Argument forCurrent safety plans and quick reports could help the department and local responders spot dam problems and prepare for possible flooding.
Argument againstOwners may have trouble providing the required grant match, and the state may seek repayment from owners for emergency work paid from the fund.
More detail
Dam owners would keep safety plans current and send required plans to the department for review. Owners must prepare plans for each dam they own; emergency action plans are required for their high- and significant-hazard dams. Owners must report concerning monitoring findings and safety or security incidents to the department within 24 hours. Emergency action plans cover high- and significant-hazard dams. Owners must report concerning monitoring findings within 24 hours and safety or security incidents within 24 hours.
The department could limit dam operations, order a dam removed, or take emergency steps when a dam poses an immediate danger. The department’s orders may address significant harm to people, property, or natural resources, or an immediate danger from a dam. Before ordering removal, the department must find that significant harm is likely to continue and give the owner a chance to correct the problem. Removal of a dam under the Michigan Public Service Commission’s or Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s authority requires that regulator’s written agreement. Before a final order, the owner must have a chance for a hearing; after an emergency order, the department must provide a hearing opportunity within 15 days. The department must provide a hearing opportunity within 15 days after issuing an emergency order.
The text describes a dam safety emergency fund and grants for dam repair, alteration, removal, and related engineering work. Dam owners could apply for grants for repair, alteration, removal, or related planning and engineering work. The department may spend from the fund only after an appropriation and when an owner cannot or will not take corrective action. Grant applicants must provide matching funds of at least 10%. The department may spend from the emergency fund only when money is appropriated.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Oct 6laid over one day under the rulesLatest
- Oct 6returned from Senate with substitute (S-2) with immediate effect and title amendment
- Oct 1RETURNED TO HOUSE
- Vote recorded PASSED; GIVEN IMMEDIATE EFFECT ROLL CALL # 247 YEAS 34 NAYS 2 EXCUSED 2 NOT VOTING 0. Result: pass.Upper
- Oct 1INSERTED FULL TITLE
- Oct 1PASSED; GIVEN IMMEDIATE EFFECT ROLL CALL # 247 YEAS 34 NAYS 2 EXCUSED 2 NOT VOTING 0Passed Senate
- Oct 1PLACED ON IMMEDIATE PASSAGE
- Oct 1RULES SUSPENDED
- Oct 1PLACED ON ORDER OF THIRD READING WITH SUBSTITUTE (S-2)
- Oct 1SUBSTITUTE (S-2) CONCURRED IN
- Oct 1REPORTED BY COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FAVORABLY WITH SUBSTITUTE (S-2)Minor
- Oct 1RULES SUSPENDED FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION
- Oct 1PLACED ON ORDER OF GENERAL ORDERS
- Oct 1DISCHARGE COMMITTEE APPROVED
- Jul 29REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONSMinor
- Jul 29PASSED BY HOUSE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT
- Jul 3transmitted
- Vote recorded passed; given immediate effect Roll Call #298 Yeas 100 Nays 8 Excused 0 Not Voting 2. Result: pass.Lower
- Jul 3passed; given immediate effect Roll Call #298 Yeas 100 Nays 8 Excused 0 Not Voting 2Passed House
- Jul 3read a third timeMinor
- Jul 2placed on third reading
- Jul 2substitute (H-4) adopted
- Jul 2read a second timeMinor
- Jul 2placed on second reading
- Jul 2motion to discharge committee approved
- Jul 2rule suspended
- Feb 3bill electronically reproduced 01/29/2026
- Jan 29referred to Committee on Natural Resources and TourismMinor
- Jan 29read a first timeMinor
- Jan 29introduced by Representative Rep. Bill SchuetteIntroduced
Environment & EnergyEmergency ManagementPublic Safety