State Rep. Tom Kunse (R-Clare) today applauded the Michigan House for approving his plan to require state environmental and natural resources officers to obtain a warrant before entering private property.

House Bills 4073 and 4421, sponsored by Kunse, would ensure that officers from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) respect private property rights by securing a warrant prior to conducting inspections or investigations on private land.

“No government agency should have the power to walk onto someone’s property without permission or a warrant,” said Kunse. “These bills restore a basic constitutional protection and make sure state agencies operate with the same accountability as local law enforcement.”

Currently, DNR and EGLE officials can conduct inspections or investigations on private property without a warrant. House Bills 4073 and 4421 would create explicit legal requirements, ensuring these agencies adhere to the same constitutional standards as other government bodies when entering private land.

“Protecting our environment should never come at the expense of people’s privacy and property rights,” Kunse said. “This plan ensures both can coexist.”