Michigan Bill to Facilitate Motorized Access to Forest Roads Moves to Senate Floor

 

DON’T DELAY!  Please request support for (H.B. 5275) immediately from the Michigan Senate:

You may use the following points in your message:

  • H.B. 5275 requires that forest roads be open to motorized use by the public unless otherwise designated by the Department of Natural Resources. 
     
  • H.B. 5275 requires the department to identify the location, condition, and development level of the forest roads and determine types of motorized and nonmotorized use currently restricted on each forest road segment and the seasons during which those uses are currently restricted. 
     
  • H.B. 5275 requires the department to annually post to its website the total miles of forest roads open to motorized use and a map of those forest roads.

Overview: Legislation (H.B. 5275) to require that forest roads be open to motorized use by the public unless otherwise designated by the Department of Natural Resources was approved by the Michigan Senate Committee on Outdoor Recreation and Tourism.  Having already been approved by the House, the bill will now move to the Senate floor for a vote by all members.  Under the bill, before the department newly restricts a road or trail used to access public land, it must provide local governments in which the land is located written notice that includes the reason for the restriction.