Water supply: other; permit and license for water withdrawal for water bottling and water bottling royalties; provide for. Amends secs. 4 & 17 of 1976 PA 399 (MCL 325.1004 & 325.1017) & adds sec. 17a.
Key claim: Michigan SB0951 would require permits and licenses for water withdrawals used for water bottling and establish water-bottling royalties by amending the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Abstract
(SB0951 · 103rd Legislature) Water supply: other; permit and license for water withdrawal for water bottling and water bottling royalties; provide for. Amends secs. 4 & 17 of 1976 PA 399 (MCL 325.1004 & 325.1017) & adds sec. 17a. Sponsor: Sen. Samir Singh (D) In committee: S Natural Resources And Agriculture Latest action (2026-05-07): Referred To Committee On Natural Resources And Agriculture
Why this matters
Michigan has long faced political friction over commercial water bottling — particularly the low fees paid relative to withdrawal volumes. SB0951 would move bottling from a general withdrawal-registration posture into a permit-and-license regime under the Safe Drinking Water Act and impose royalties, materially changing the cost structure for bottlers and potentially generating a new state revenue stream tied to Great Lakes basin groundwater.