Bipartisan Package Expanding Access to Clean, Safe Water Signed by Governor Whitmer

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bipartisan package of bills Thursday to expand access to clean, safe water for communities across the state.

Together, House Bills 5890, 5891 and 5892 update the state’s Revolving Fund statue, according to a release by the Executive Office of the Governor. Communities across Michigan can expect to see less issues accessing state financing and funding to address water infrastructure needs, along with flexibility to ensure financing is equitably distributed. The bills also amend the financing program to allow money to flow to the modern infrastructure needs of communities.

“Every Michigan family in every community deserves access to safe drinking water,” said Gov. Whitmer. “Today, I am proud to sign a bipartisan water package that will make it easier for communities to finance and initiate water infrastructure projects.”

Individually, the three House Bills accomplish the following:

• HB 5890 expands access to clean and safe drinking water for Michiganders by amending requirements and processes to access water infrastructure financing.
• HB 5891 is a companion bill to HB 5890 and makes needed reference updates to the Shared Credit Rating Act to specify that the definition of “capitalization grant” would include a federal grant made to Michigan by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to establish a State Drinking Water Revolving fund.
• HB 5892 lowers the burden of the application process so communities can quickly get the dollars needed to build critical infrastructure projects.

“This critical funding will support communities as they address backlogged water system needs and help ensure high-quality drinking water for Michiganders,” said Liesl Clark, Director of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. “EGLE is committed to partnering with our communities in the coming years to ensure that Michiganders’ health and their environment have the best protections possible.”