Learning the outcomes of what happened at meetings of the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) is a challenge. The NRC has exclusive authority to regulate the taking of game and sport fish, and is authorized to designate game species and authorize the establishment of the first open season for animals through the issuance of orders. The NRC conducts monthly, public meetings in locations throughout Michigan. Although the NRC web page states that “Citizens are encouraged to become actively involved in these public forums,” most of us find it challenging to travel to the meetings in person. As an alternative the meetings could be live streamed or recordings could be viewed after the meetings.
House Bill 4822, which would require live video of NRC meetings, was passed by the Michigan House of Representatives by a vote of 99-1 on December 9, 2025. According to the summary report, HB 4822 would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require that the Natural Resources Commission provide a live video stream of all its public meetings and do all the following:
- Publish on the NRC website the link to the live stream not less than 24 hours prior to the start of the meeting.
- Make past meetings available for viewing on the NRC website.
- Maintain a public archive of all past meetings, organized and searchable by date and subject matter.
HB 4822 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Oversight. Please contact your state Senator and urge them to support this bill. If you have time, please also call the leadership of the Committee on Oversight and ask them to move HB 4822 forward in the Senate. If your state Senator is a member of the Committee on Oversight, it would be especially helpful to contact them. Members of the Committee on Oversight are listed below. If you are not sure of your senator’s name or phone number, you can look them up at https://senate.michigan.gov/senators/all-senators/.
Senate Oversight Committee Members