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Committee hears bill to limit open‑fields searches by conservation officers; agency opposition voiced
Summary
Representative Jon Preston presented a simplified substitute of House Bill 4073 that would bar the open‑fields doctrine from authorizing searches by conservation officers of the Department of Natural Resources.
Lansing — Representative Jon Preston presented a substitute draft of legislation (referred to in hearing materials as House Bill 4073) that would clarify that the open‑fields doctrine does not apply to searches conducted by conservation officers of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Preston told the House Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism that the earlier draft had prompted public‑safety concerns from the DNR; the simplified substitute aims to “protect private property rights while ensuring conservation officers can fulfill their duties.” He said many constituents in the Upper Peninsula fear unannounced agency presence on private land and that outreach to DNR leadership failed to produce reforms to officers’ practices.
The committee heard opposition from…
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