HB 5986 Summary

• Amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to define "introduce" to include stocking, placing, planting, releasing, or using organisms as live fishing bait outside their native location.

• Establishes prohibited species including 13 aquatic plants (African oxygen weed, Brazilian elodea, hydrilla, water chestnut, etc.), Eurasian collared dove, rusty crayfish, 13 fish species (bighead carp, grass carp, snakehead, etc.), 2 insects (Asian longhorned beetle, emerald ash borer), nutria, and 6 mollusk species.

• Establishes restricted species including 5 aquatic plants (curly leaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, etc.) and 2 mollusk species (quagga and zebra mussels), with exemption for approved sterile purple loosestrife cultivars.

• Sets civil penalties: up to $100 for certain violations, $5,000 for restricted species violations, $10,000 for prohibited species violations; criminal penalties range from misdemeanor (6 months to 1 year imprisonment, $500-$10,000 fines) to felony (2-5 years imprisonment, $1,000-$1,000,000 fines) depending on species and intent.

• Exempts activities authorized under the Michigan Aquaculture Development Act and makes violators liable for damages to natural resources including prevention and mitigation costs.