ILLINOIS

State awards 108 biodiversity grants to bring 7,000 students to natural resource sites.

• Illinois Department of Natural Resources distributed grants through its competitive Biodiversity Field Trip Grant program

• Program administered jointly with Illinois Conservation Foundation to fund educational visits to state parks, natural areas, and museums

• Grants will enable nearly 7,000 students to participate in field trips to natural resource sites

KANSAS

Governor Kelly vetoed five bills including property tax legislation.

• Kelly rejected House Bill 2043, calling legislative promises to solve property tax issues "false promises"

• Veto message indicates continued tension between governor and legislature over tax policy

• Bill details not specified in release, but veto suggests building code or property tax provisions Kelly opposed

MICHIGAN

State finalizes 10-year maritime strategy while pushing new dam safety regulations.

• Office of the Great Lakes completed Michigan Maritime Strategy focusing on economic growth, regional leadership, and environmental stewardship

• Separate legislation proposed to strengthen dam safety oversight and increase accountability following dam failures since 2021

• Dam safety bill would provide new regulatory tools to reduce statewide risks

📰 Energy watchdog group appeals electrical rate increase sought by Consumers Energy (Michigan Advance)

📰 Ann Arbor Public Power initiative accuses DTE of fronting opposition effort (Michigan Advance)

📰 Nessel calls DTE rate pause proposal a 'ransom note' (Michigan Advance)