House approves companion bill to limit agency entry on private land, citing due-process concerns

LANSING — The House passed House Bill 4421 on Nov. 4, a measure amending the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require the Department of Natural Resources to obtain a warrant or the property owner’s permission before entering private property except in narrowly defined exigent circumstances.

Representative Koontz, speaking for the bill, emphasized private-property protections and called the change "simple": get a warrant. Koontz said due process should not be bypassed in the name of environmental enforcement. Opponents argued federal precedent and operational needs; floor debate echoed the concerns and examples raised during consideration of a similar bill earlier in the day.

The clerk announced 63 ayes and 37 nays on final passage. The House then voted to grant immediate effect to the measure.

Because H.B. 4421 addresses the same statutory area as H.B. 4073, stakeholders should review both bills’ texts to determine whether differences remain in language and scope. The House’s passage moves the bill forward for the remaining legislative steps.