Michigan Senate votes to overhaul dam safety laws

The Michigan Senate has voted to overhaul the state’s dam safety laws, bringing long-awaited reforms one step closer to becoming law. The legislation aims to strengthen flood control standards, increase inspections, and require dam owners to demonstrate their ability to maintain structures.

Both legislative chambers have approved versions of two companion bills sponsored by Senator Mallory McMorrow and Representative Bill G. Schuette. Because the Senate vote included substitute language for House Bill 5485, the bill must return to the House for concurrence before it can be sent to Governor Gretchen Whitmer for her signature.

The push for reform follows previous dam failures in mid-Michigan that resulted in over $200 million in damages, as well as recent flooding that caused further costly failures. Michigan possesses some of the nation’s oldest dams, with an average age of approximately 80 years. Investigations have indicated that over 100,000 residents live in potential flood paths of high or significant-hazard dams, many of which are currently in poor or unsatisfactory condition.