Reps. Greg Markkanen and Dave Prestin introduce legislation requiring conservation officers to obtain warrants and wear body cameras.
Michigan Legislators Push for DNR Reform with Warrant and Body Camera Mandates
LANSING, MI – State Reps. Greg Markkanen (R-Hancock) and Dave Prestin (R-Cedar River) have introduced legislation aimed at modernizing the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) enforcement policies. The bills, announced Tuesday, propose requiring conservation officers to obtain search warrants before entering private property and mandating the use of body cameras.
“We need the DNR to update their outdated rules and policies, both for their best interest and the public,” said Rep. Prestin. “While every law enforcement agency can theoretically use the open fields doctrine, most choose to respect private property and only enter with probable cause or a search warrant. There’s no reason that the DNR needs to wander three miles into private property to check if a hunter is wearing orange.”
Ensuring Constitutional Protection and Accountability
Under the proposed legislation, conservation officers would need a warrant before accessing private property, aligning them with other law enforcement agencies. Exceptions to this rule include hot pursuit of a suspect, obtaining property owner permission, protecting life, or preserving evidence.
Rep. Prestin’s bill would end the DNR’s long-standing practice of entering properties without warrants, a policy he says has raised concerns among private landowners.
“The first stranger you see on your property shouldn’t be someone trespassing in a green uniform,” Prestin said.
Bringing Conservation Officers Into the 21st Century
The second bill, introduced by Rep. Markkanen, would require conservation officers to wear body cameras, reversing an outdated departmental policy prohibiting their use. Markkanen emphasized the importance of transparency and officer protection, pointing out that all other law enforcement agencies in Michigan already use body cameras.
“Every other law enforcement agency in the state utilizes camera technology to shield their officers from false claims,” said Rep. Markkanen. “It’s only fair that conservation officers receive those same protections.”
By bringing the DNR in line with modern policing standards, Markkanen and Prestin believe they are making Michigan’s conservation enforcement more accountable and equitable.
Legislative Process and Next Steps
The bills will be referred to a House committee for further deliberation. If passed, they would mark a major shift in how conservation officers operate in Michigan, reinforcing constitutional property rights and best practices in law enforcement accountability.
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