HB 5940 Michigan House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Public utilities: electric utilities; electronic transmission infrastructure; allow to use existing rights-of-way. Amends sec. 13 of 1925 PA 368 (MCL 247.183) & adds sec. 13a.

HB 5940 allows electric utilities and other providers to install electronic transmission infrastructure, such as high-voltage power lines, within existing highway rights-of-way without needing separate consent from local governments. The bill establishes specific standards for underground placement to avoid increasing road maintenance costs and introduces a fee structure where utilities pay a one-time permit fee, with revenues dedicated to highway capital and maintenance. Additionally, the legislation creates a coordination process between the state transportation department and utilities to identify suitable routes and includes protections that prevent the state from relocating transmission lines for at least five years once a route is approved.

Issues: ✓ Energy ✓ Transportation

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2026

Committee Review

Jun 2026

House Passage

Aug 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced May 12, 2026 Last action Aug 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed by the House → Substitute (H-2) · 1 edit

MINOR

This is a reformatting of HB 5940 from its 'As Passed by the House' version into a Substitute (H-2) format. The substantive text of Section 13 and Section 13a is unchanged; only line numbering, indentation, page headers, and paragraph breaks were adjusted to conform to substitute bill formatting conventions.

TECHNICAL

The bill was reformatted from the House-passed layout into a Substitute (H-2) layout with added line numbers, page headers/footers, and reflowed text. No substantive policy language was added, removed, or altered.

House Introduced Bill → As Passed by the House · 3 edits · Jul 1, 2026

MINOR

The House passed a substitute version of HB 5940 that expands the entities eligible to request transmission line collocation along highway corridors from just 'utilities or transmission line developers' to include 'independent transmission companies' and 'affiliated transmission companies.' It also weakens the relocation protection for transmission lines by replacing a strict 5-year advance notice requirement with a more flexible standard requiring the state to inform affected entities 'as soon as is practical' when substantial changes to its 5-year plan are needed due to unforeseen circumstances.

Scope change

The bill's scope was broadened to cover independent transmission companies and affiliated transmission companies in addition to utilities and transmission line developers, giving these entities the same rights to request corridor reviews, receive information about future projects, and participate in constructability reports.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded the entities that can request highway corridor reviews and collocation for transmission lines from 'utility or transmission line developer' to 'utility, independent transmission company, or affiliated transmission company' throughout Section 13a.

REQUIREMENT

Added the qualifier 'as it is practicable' to the constructability report provision, meaning the state transportation department is no longer absolutely barred from requesting relocation of a transmission line - it only cannot do so where it is practicable to avoid doing so.

ENFORCEMENT

Replaced the strict requirement that the state give at least 5 years advance written notice before relocating a transmission line with a softer obligation: if a substantial change to the 5-year plan is necessary due to unforeseen circumstances in a collocation location, the state must inform the affected entity in writing 'as soon as is practical' after an updated plan is published but before the next scheduled plan.

Floor votes · House Aug 26, 2026

How they voted

97–0

Passed

Total votes 97

Aug 26, 2026

D Democratic40

40 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican57

57 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Aug 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

passed; given immediate effect Roll Call #353 Yeas 98 Nays 0 Excused 0 Not Voting 12

lower

Jul 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

substitute (H-2) adopted

lower

Jun 23, 2026

Committee

referred to second reading

lower

Jun 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

reported with recommendation with substitute (H-2)

lower

May 12, 2026

Committee

referred to Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

lower

May 12, 2026

Introduced

introduced by Representative Rep. Dave Prestin

lower

1 primary · 14 co-sponsors