Senate passes McMorrow bill to strengthen oversight of dams across the state, protect Michiganders and their communities
LANSING, Mich. (July 2, 2026) — As Michigan’s roughly 2,600 dams continue to rapidly age and pose a threat to families, homes, and communities, the Michigan Senate passed legislation today championed by Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) to ensure that dams statewide get the repairs, updates, and oversight they need. Following the passage of her legislation, Senate Bill 947, Sen. McMorrow released the following statement:
“The need is urgent, and the recommendations are clear — we cannot wait any longer to take action on Michigan’s aging dams. After what we saw play out from the devastating Edenville Dam failure in 2020 and recent threats posed by the dam in Cheboygan this spring, we must act now to prevent future tragedies from occurring. That’s what this legislation aims to do, by protecting homes, businesses, communities, and taxpayers from the enormous costs — both financial and human — of catastrophic dam failures. I’m proud to see the Senate pass my bill with bipartisan support today, and I call on the House to follow suit.”
This legislation now heads to the House for consideration. Learn more details about the bill here.
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