MI HB6123

Amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to establish a water use advisory council within the Department of Environmental Quality with 17 voting members and 6 ex officio nonvoting members representing diverse stakeholder interests.

Council membership appointed by the Senate Majority Leader (4 members), Speaker of the House (4 members), Governor (5 members), and Director of DEQ (4 members) within 60 days of the amendment's effective date, with 4-year terms and consideration given to current council members.

Council responsibilities include making recommendations on implementation of water withdrawal assessment processes, improving data collection and hydrological models, identifying needed research and training, and studying conflicts in state water use laws.

Council must submit biennial reports to legislative leadership and relevant standing committees with specific recommendations on improving water withdrawal assessment processes, including permitting, staffing, budgetary, and software resource needs.

Act takes immediate effect upon approval.