House committee advances $75 million supplemental for Northern Michigan disaster relief; amendment fails

House Bill 4,328, a supplemental appropriation of $75,000,000 from the general fund to the Michigan State Police to administer a storm and natural disaster relief program for Northern Michigan, was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee with a recommendation after an amendment to tie the funding to Senate Bill 55 was defeated.

The bill, sponsored on the floor by Representative Fairbairn, would require the Michigan State Police to allocate the $75 million to local units of government to assist residents, businesses and communities that have suffered significant financial hardship from recent storm damage. Robin Riscu of House Fiscal told the committee the funding is intended for a range of disaster response and recovery purposes, including state matching funds to secure federal emergency assistance, emergency actions to protect life and property (including shelter and supplies), labor assistance and temporary employment, cleanup and recovery, support for dislocated workers, energy assistance to prevent utility shutoffs, and repair or replacement of disaster‑damaged infrastructure, facilities and eligible private nonprofit organizations.

The bill also directs that any remaining funds be used, on a first‑come, first‑served basis, to address damage on land owned by the State and the Department of Natural Resources and to reimburse third‑party providers that assisted in recovery efforts, including costs for deploying…