Mich. Comp. Laws § 120.53

Sec. 3. The department may cooperate and enter into agreements with the United States and any agency or department thereof in the conduct of studies, research programs and related investigations designed to make available to port districts of this state, information to assist in stimulating, increasing or developing traffic within the port districts; but in no case shall the department obligate the state without legislative approval. To the greatest extent possible, any such studies shall be conducted in conjunction with port districts of this state.