Michigan legislation · 103rd Legislature
Michigan HR371: A resolution urging the Michigan Board of Education to advise Michigan schools to continue referring to the Great Lakes as Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario.
Status: In committee, September 23, 2026
What the bill says
A resolution urging the Michigan Board of Education to advise Michigan schools to continue referring to the Great Lakes as Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario.
From the introduced text, September 23, 2026:
A resolution urging the Michigan Board of Education to advise Michigan schools to continue referring to the Great Lakes as Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. Whereas, On August 27, 2026, the President of the United States signed Executive Order 14422 that directs the renaming of Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes; and Whereas, Although the President of the United States has the authority to direct the Secretary of the Interior to provide for geographic nomenclature throughout the Federal Government, executive orders do not change state laws or command states to take specific local actions; and Whereas, Michigan borders four of the five Great Lakes and is often referred to as the Great Lakes State. Michigan schools proudly teach the names of the Great Lakes using the mnemonic H.O.M.E.S, which celebrates our stateâs freshwater heritage; and Whereas The name âOntarioâ is an indigenous name originally given to the lake by the Iroquois tribe and predates both the Canadian Federation and the U.S. Declaration of Independence; and Whereas, The state of Michigan has an important cultural and economic relationship with tribal nations. Michigan is home to twelve federally recognized Indian tribes which, in 2024 alone, contributed more than one billion dollars to Michiganâs economy. Tribal nations are a part of the rich cultural fabric of Michigan, and the name of …
Sponsors
- Carter, Brenda (D, 53) · primary sponsor
- Rheingans, Carrie (D, 47)
- Dievendorf, Emily (D, 77)
- Edwards, Kimberly (D, 12)
- Breen, Kelly (D, 21)
- Steckloff, Samantha (D, 19)
- Foreman, Morgan (D, 33)
- MacDonell, Sharon (D, 56)
- Phillips, Tonya (D, 7)
- Glanville, Carol (D, 84)
- Longjohn, Matt (D, 40)
- Miller, Reggie (D, 31)
Latest actions
- : referred to Committee on Government Operations
- : introduced by Representative Rep. Brenda Carter
Common questions
- What is HR371?
- HR371 is a bill in the Michigan Legislature (103rd Legislature): A resolution urging the Michigan Board of Education to advise Michigan schools to continue referring to the Great Lakes as Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario.
- What does HR371 do?
- In its own words: A resolution urging the Michigan Board of Education to advise Michigan schools to continue referring to the Great Lakes as Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario.
- What is the status of HR371?
- In committee as of September 23, 2026. Latest action: referred to Committee on Government Operations (September 23, 2026).
- Who sponsored HR371?
- Carter, Brenda (D, 53), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HR371?
- On the Michigan Legislature website: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2026-HR-0371
Source: official Michigan record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.