MI HB6038

Creates a Department of Environmental Quality with a Commission of Environmental Quality as its governing head.

Establishes a 7-member commission appointed by the governor with senate approval, with no more than 4 members from the same political party and at least 1 member from the Upper Peninsula; members must have expertise in business/manufacturing, public utilities, waste management, local government, conservation/environmental protection, medicine/public health, or agriculture.

Commission members serve 4-year terms (staggered initially at 2, 3, and 4 years), receive no compensation but are reimbursed for travel expenses, and must comply with ethics and conflict-of-interest requirements under specified state laws.

Grants the commission appellate authority to review department decisions on permits, enforcement actions, and orders affecting property owners; establishes procedures for quasi-judicial proceedings with a 30-day filing deadline and consideration of specific enforcement factors.

Requires the commission to submit performance measures to the governor within 1 year and provide annual reports to the governor and legislature on its performance against approved metrics.