MAT's 2025 Lansing Day Draws Attention to Industry Challenges

MAT Board members testify to the House of Representatives' Natural Resources Committee in Lansing - May 7, 2025

By Jason Wadaga, MAT Lobbyist

Lansing, Michigan Earlier this month, members of the Michigan Association of Timbermen (MAT) spent the day at the Capitol in Lansing providing testimony in two committee hearings, meeting with various legislators and industries and hosting a legislative reception at their lobbying form, Kindsvatter, Dalling and Associates (KDA).

At the request of the House Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman and 2024 MAT “Legislator of the Year”, Rep. Ken Borton, MAT testified in his committee on the impact of the ice storm in northern Michigan earlier this year.

The testimony centered around the concerns that MAT has of replanting red pine in the impacted area and how it could affect harvesting for decades to come. MAT members testified that regrowth will come with a cost to the State of Michigan which is unknown at this time. Complicating this issue further is shortages of red pine seed that started long before the ice storm.

In the afternoon, MAT testified in the House Natural Resources Committee that covers policy items as opposed to appropriations. The committee chairman, Rep. David Martin, asked members of MAT to come in and educate the committee members on information about the association itself and the legislative policy initiatives they are working on in 2025.

Included in the priorities were:

• Funding reforestation of commercially viable tree species – specifically red pine – in Michigan.

• Allowing the hauling of over-width, not overweight, logging equipment during road restrictions

• Putting parameters on future solar and wind development projects on state land

• Creating a Forest Development Fund for loggers that provides economic incentives for job retention and growth

Following several MAT members meeting with their individual legislators, the day concluded by hosting a legislative reception at MAT’s lobby firm, KDA. Roughly fifteen MAT members attended the event that included legislators, legislative staff and department officials.

We are pleased with the productivity of the day, meeting with not only legislators and other interest groups, but also with the individual exposure it provided the association in front of formal legislative proceedings. We are hopeful to make this an annual day every spring.