Committee adopts substitute and reports bill letting county drain commissioners assess state land

The House Committee on Government Operations adopted an H‑1 substitute and voted to report House Bill 4118, a measure that would allow county drain commissioners to levy drain assessments on state lands.

Representative Harris moved adoption of the H‑1 substitute, which corrects a wording error on page 3, line 2 (changing “country” to “county”), and the committee approved the substitute by voice/roll call. The clerk recorded five yays, zero nays. The committee then voted to report House Bill 4118 with the recommendation as substituted; the clerk recorded five yays, zero nays.

The bill’s sponsor explained the change in the H‑1 substitute was clerical and does not alter the substantive effect: it would permit county drain commissioners to assess properties owned by the state as part of local drainage assessments. The committee read two written pieces of testimony into the record and noted a member of the Michigan Farm Bureau submitted a card indicating support; another witness who could not appear in person was invited to submit written testimony for the record.

No additional amendments or directions to staff were recorded during the roll-call actions. Because the committee reported the bill with a recommendation, it moves to the next step in the House process for further consideration.

Votes at a glance

- H‑1 substitute to House Bill 4118: adopted (recorded: 5 yays, 0 nays). Motion moved by Representative Harris. - Motion to report House Bill 4118 with recommendation as substituted: adopted (recorded: 5 yays, 0 nays). Motion moved by Representative Harris.

Ending

The committee took the votes on House Bill 4118 early in the agenda, then moved on to a separate package of bills concerning foreign influence.