Local government: authorities; revisions to the recreational authorities act; provide for, the official text

Act No. 13

Public Acts of 2026

Approved by the Governor

May 14, 2026

Filed with the Secretary of State

May 14, 2026

EFFECTIVE
DATE: May 14, 2026

state of michigan

103rd Legislature

Regular session of 2026

Introduced by Rep. Markkanen

ENROLLED HOUSE BILL No. 4695

AN ACT to amend 2000 PA 321,
entitled “An act to provide for the establishment of recreational authorities;
to provide powers and duties of an authority; to authorize the assessment of a
fee, the levy of a property tax, and the issuance of bonds and notes by an
authority; and to provide for the powers and duties of certain government
officials,” by amending sections 1 and 3 (MCL 123.1131 and 123.1133), section 3
as amended by 2016 PA 174.

The People of the State of
Michigan enact:

Sec.
1. This act may be cited as the “recreational and natural resources authority
act”.

Sec.
3. As used in this act:

(a) “Articles” means the articles of incorporation of an
authority.

(b) “Authority” or “recreational authority” means an
authority established under section 5.

(c) “Board” means the board of directors of the authority.

(d) “District” means a portion of a municipality having
boundaries coterminous with those of a precinct used for general elections.

(e) “Electors of the authority” means the qualified and
registered electors of the participating municipality or municipalities who
reside within the territory of the authority.

(f) “Largest county” means, of those counties in which a
participating municipality is located, the county having the greatest
population.

(g) “Municipality” means a city, county, village, township,
or school district.

(h) “Park” means an area of land or water, or both, dedicated
to 1 or more of the following uses:

(i)
Recreational purposes, including, but not limited to, landscaped tracts; picnic
grounds; playgrounds; athletic fields; camps; campgrounds; zoological and
botanical gardens; living historical farms; boating, hunting, fishing, and
birding areas; swimming areas; and foot, bicycle, and bridle paths.

(ii) Open or scenic space.

(iii) Environmental, conservation, nature, or
wildlife areas.

(i) “Participating municipality” means a municipality or
district that is named in articles of incorporation or proposed articles of
incorporation as joining in the original establishment of an authority, or a
municipality or district that joins an existing authority and is added to the
articles of incorporation, and that has not withdrawn from the authority.

(j) “Public forest and natural resources area” means an area
of land or water, or both, and buildings and other improvements on the area,
that is designated by an authority to be used primarily for 1 or more of the
following:

(i) Recreational purposes, including, but
not limited to, landscaped tracts; picnic grounds; playgrounds; athletic
fields; camps; campgrounds; zoological and botanical gardens; living historical
farms; boating, hunting, fishing, and birding areas; swimming areas; foraging
and fruit picking; and foot, snowmobile, ORV, bicycle, and bridle paths or
trails. As used in this subparagraph, “ORV” means that term as defined in
section 81101 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994
PA 451, MCL 324.81101.

(ii) Open or scenic space.

(iii) Environmental, conservation, nature, or
wildlife areas.

(iv) Forestry or natural resources
management.

(v) Protection or preservation of cultural
or historical resources.

(vi) Any activity that may be a dedicated use
of a park under subdivision (h).

(k) “Public historic farm” means a parcel of public land and
its buildings that are accessible to the public, and provides, but is not
limited to, agricultural and historical programs, farming activities and animal
husbandry, community recreation activities and events, programs held in common
areas, meeting rooms, and community gardens, and access to surrounding
parkland.

(l) “Swimming pool” includes equipment,
structures, areas, and enclosures intended for the use of individuals using or
operating a swimming pool, such as equipment, dressing, locker, shower, and
toilet rooms.

(m) “Territory of the authority” means the combined territory
of the participating municipality or municipalities that is served by an
authority.

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect
unless House Bill No. 4694 of the 103rd Legislature is enacted into law.

This act is ordered to take
immediate effect.

Clerk of the House of
Representatives

Secretary of the Senate

Approved___________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Governor