June 2026

GLLC to elect Executive Committee members at the September Annual Meeting

Every two years, the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus elects two officers (chair and vice chair), along with Executive Committee members from each member jurisdiction. The GLLC is currently accepting nominations from now until July 24 for these 12 positions. Any GLLC member may nominate or self-nominate using the form linked below. The Nominations Committee will then compile a slate of eligible candidates for the election on Sept. 29 in Marquette, Mich. 

GLLC Executive Committee members should be legislators who are engaged in Great Lakes issues and are willing and able to contribute to the work of the caucus. All nominated candidates must be GLLC members by the time of the election, and be able to serve a two-year term beginning on Jan. 1. Nominees for chair and vice chair must have previously served on the Executive Committee. If you have questions regarding the nomination process, elections, or the role of Executive Committee member or leadership, please feel free to reach out to GLLC Staff.

Also, don't forget to register for the GLLC Annual Meeting on Sept. 28-29 in Marquette, Mich! The link to register is provided below. Travel Scholarships are available. Be sure to register early and request a travel scholarship before all scholarships are awarded.

GLLC reaffirms its partnership with the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative

In May, Ontario MPP Jennifer French attended the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI) Annual Conference in Hamilton, Ontario. The GLSLCI is a multinational organization of more than 400 municipal members from across the basin working together on Great Lakes protection and restoration. As Ontario’s representative on the GLLC Executive Committee, MPP French provided an update to the Mayors Commission on Economic Transformation. She highlighted the GLLC’s ongoing work in two areas: 1) policies to address emerging contaminants; 2) state and provincial regulatory and statutory approaches to large water users, including data centers.



The GLLC is an implementation partner of GLSLCI’s Economic Transformation Action Plan, which seeks to attract sustainable economic development to the region while improving water quality, reducing emissions, and avoiding an increase in consumptive water loss.

Michigan Passes Local Conservation Legislation: In May, Michigan House Bills 4694, 4695 and 4798, sponsored by GLLC member Rep. Gregory Markkanen, passed both chambers of the Legislature and were signed by the governor. These bills will allow local communities to create authorities that protect forests and recreational areas. Additionally, the bills will make it easier for municipalities to receive state funding for land preservation and land access. 



Wisconsin Takes on PFAS: In April, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed Acts 200 and 201, (sponsored by Reps. Jeffery Mursau and Rob Swearingen) which create and fund grant programs to help combat PFAS, specifically in drinking water. These new programs come on the heels of Wisconsin tightening its PFAS standards. In March, the state decreased maximum contaminants levels for PFAS in water from 70 ppt to 4 ppt, putting the state's requirement in line with forthcoming federal standards.

Great Lakes State and Provincial Legislative Tracker

Take a look at the searchable, sortable GLLC State and Provincial Legislative Tracker for the latest legislative activity.