Senate Bill 1235 Summary

• Amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to define prohibited and restricted species, including specific aquatic plants, birds, crustaceans, fish, insects, mammals, and mollusks.

• Establishes that prohibited species include organisms not native to Michigan that pose severe risks to human health or natural resources with no effective control methods available.

• Establishes that restricted species include organisms that are naturalized and widely distributed in Michigan but still pose potential harm to health or resources.

• Removes the Natural Resources Commission and Agriculture Commission's authority to unilaterally add or delete species from the prohibited or restricted lists through administrative orders.

• Transfers authority for recommending changes to prohibited or restricted species lists to the legislature, requiring departmental consultation and recommendations rather than independent commission action.