LANSING, Mich., March 21, 2024 — State Rep. Carrie A. Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) held a press conference today to speak to her newly introduced legislation, House Bill 5600. This legislation will create the Office of Tribal Legislative Liaison (OTLL) in the Legislature. It seeks to better facilitate government-to-government relationships through consultation in the policymaking process between legislators and the 12 federally recognized tribes in Michigan.

“I am proud to be introducing this crucial legislation to create the Office of Tribal Legislative Liaison. This office is something that the tribes have been asking the legislature to formalize for years,” Rheingans said. “As a policymaker, it is my philosophy that the people most affected by policy issues should be the ones leading on how to go about solving them. I’m proud that this bill has the support of all 12 federally recognized tribes and that tribal leadership was involved in the drafting of the language for this bill, from its inception to its introduction.”

The office would do the following things:

  • Maintain relationships with all 12 federally recognized tribes.

  • Provide guidance to members of the Legislature and their staff on legislation that impacts the tribes.

  • Inform the Legislature about the impact of specific legislation.

  • Provide an annual training to members of the Legislature and their staff on how to consult with the tribes and the history and current state of the tribes.

  • Will make an annual report available to the governor, leadership of both chambers, and each committee chair, and the public.
    • The report details concerns presented by elected tribal leaders during the development of legislation in the previous year.

The OTLL will serve as a centralized hub for state and tribal governments to deliberately seek consultation on matters of mutual interest, including economic development, environmental stewardship, health care, education, public safety and more. During the virtual event, both Jamie Stuck, president of the United Tribes of Michigan and chairman of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi, and Austin Lowes, vice president of the United Tribes of Michigan and chairman of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa, spoke to the bill introduction.

“The creation of the Office of Tribal Legislative Liaison augments the government-to-government relationship between the sovereign tribal nations and the Michigan State Legislature,” Stuck said. “The approval of this position will promote a more respectful and cooperative collaboration, including tribal leaders during the development of legislation impacting our communities, leading to a more inclusive and equitable process where our voices are heard.”

“I think it is wonderful that this bill is actually asking tribes who we want in this position,” Lowes said. “So often, when we have people work with us, we don’t have any input on that. The fact that this liaison, if the bill passes, would be appointed from a list of individuals recommended by the 12 federally recognized tribes is a powerful statement by the state of Michigan.”

A letter of support from the United Tribes of Michigan is included here endorsing this crucial legislation and affirming its potential to strengthen tribal-state relations.

###