HB 4204 Michigan House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Liquor: licenses; breweries to allow dogs inside at discretion of establishment; allow under certain conditions. Amends sec. 6101 of 2000 PA 92 (MCL 289.6101). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4205'25

HB 4204 would amend Michigan law to allow breweries to permit dogs inside their establishments at the brewery's discretion, provided certain conditions are met. The bill directly affects breweries and their patrons by changing existing liquor license rules (MCL 289.6101) regarding animal access. Key provisions require breweries to set their own policies for dog entry while complying with unspecified conditions outlined in the bill. This is a procedural change to licensing rules, not a broad policy shift, and does not alter other animal or public access regulations.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 11, 2025 Last action Sep 18, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

House Introduced Bill → Substitute (H-1) · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Michigan's Food Law to update regulations regarding the handling of raw animal foods and the presence of service dogs in food establishments. The changes clarify cooking and cooling requirements for raw animal foods and significantly expand the rules governing where dogs are allowed in establishments that serve food.

Scope change

The bill modifies the applicability of food safety rules for raw animal foods and expands the scope of permitted service dog activities from premises that only serve drinks to those that serve food, while adding stricter hygiene and interaction restrictions.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the rules for non-continuous cooking of raw animal foods to ensure proper cooling, freezing, and reheating procedures are followed to prevent foodborne illness.

Changed the definition of 'qualified premises' for service dogs from places that do not serve food to places that sell and serve only drinks, allowing dogs in more locations.

Added new restrictions requiring dogs to be leashed, unattended, and prohibited from contacting reusable tableware or sitting on customer laps.

Updated employee hygiene rules to specify that staff must wash hands after touching a dog or cleaning dog waste before serving drinks or handling tableware.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Sep 18, 2025

Committee

referred to second reading

lower

Sep 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

reported with recommendation with substitute (H-1)

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Committee

referred to Committee on Regulatory Reform

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Introduced

introduced by Representative Rep. Natalie Price

lower

1 primary · 17 co-sponsors