Economic development: other; Michigan freedom trail commission act; amend to reflect elimination of the Michigan strategic fund. Amends secs. 2 & 3 of 1998 PA 409 (MCL 399.82 & 399.83). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0631'25
SB 673 amends the Michigan Freedom Trail Commission Act to update the commission’s statutory home, membership, and administrative references. The bill moves the commission from the Department of History, Arts, and Libraries to the Department of Natural Resources, and replaces outdated references to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation with the Michigan History Center for ex officio representation. It also updates language throughout the act to reflect current terminology and clarifies the commission’s structure, appointment process, terms, vacancies, removal authority, meeting requirements, and public-records obligations.
The commission remains a state body focused on Michigan’s Freedom Trail and Underground Railroad history, with members appointed by legislative leaders and the governor, including people with expertise in African-American history, civil rights, historic preservation, local communities, and museum representation. The bill preserves the commission’s unpaid status while allowing reimbursement for necessary expenses, and it keeps the commission subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. The bill is tie-barred to SB 631, meaning it would not take effect unless that related bill is enacted.
The bill would amend sections 2 and 3 of the Michigan Freedom Trail Commission Act, changing the department responsible for the commission’s administration and updating statutory references to reflect the elimination of the Michigan Strategic Fund and the reorganization of related state entities. It would affect the commission’s governance structure and administrative oversight, but it does not create new substantive powers or programs. The bill would also continue to govern the commission’s membership, operations, and transparency requirements under existing state law.
No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or recorded support/opposition. Based on the text, the bill appears largely technical and administrative, aimed at conforming the statute to current state agency structure rather than changing policy direction. The absence of recorded controversy suggests the measure may have been viewed as a housekeeping update.
The main point of potential contention is the reassignment of oversight from the Department of History, Arts, and Libraries to the Department of Natural Resources, along with the replacement of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation with the Michigan History Center in ex officio membership. Those changes could matter to stakeholders concerned about which agency should house the commission and how closely it should be tied to cultural, historical, or economic-development functions. The tie-bar to SB 631 is also notable, because this bill cannot take effect independently and depends on enactment of the related measure.