HB 5308 requires Michigan watercraft owners to purchase an annual $35 "Great Lakes protection" decal. Revenue from these decals funds invasive species prevention and remediation efforts under Section 80124b. The bill mandates that the state agency discontinue sales if fewer than 2,000 decals are sold by September 2006, then fewer than 500 annually after that. It directly affects recreational boat owners in Michigan who must buy the decal to legally operate watercraft. The decal design is specified but placement rules allow flexibility for law enforcement.
HB 5032 amends Michigan's Revised School Code to prohibit using state school aid funds for special elections. It directly affects school districts and local governments that receive state school aid, preventing them from allocating those funds toward special election costs. The bill specifically amends Section 1361 of the School Code (MCL 380.1361) to add this restriction. This change clarifies that school aid funds must be used solely for educational purposes, not for election-related expenses.
HB 5517 creates a $0.005 per returnable beverage container tax credit for distributors who charge a deposit on containers, effective for tax years beginning January 1, 2026. The credit adjusts annually based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index starting in 2027. Distributors must attach a specific report (per 1976 IL 1) with their tax return to claim the credit, and any excess credit is refunded. This directly affects beverage distributors handling returnable containers in Michigan.
HB 4346 redirects revenue from Michigan's lawful internet gaming programs to the Michigan Agriculture Equine Industry Development Fund and removes the existing spending limit on these funds. This bill directly affects the state's horse and agricultural industries by providing them with potentially increased funding for development initiatives. The key provision changes a 2019 law (MCL 432.315) to allow all allocated gaming revenue - previously subject to a cap - to flow into the equine fund without restriction. The bill is currently pending in the House Rules Committee after being reported with a substitute amendment.
HB 4080 reinstates a program deferring property tax special assessments for eligible Michigan homestead owners. It applies to assessments due before October 1, 2020, or on/before October 1, 2022, for primary residences owned by qualifying individuals (including those who are totally and permanently disabled). The bill allows owners to defer payments until death, sale, or transfer of the property, with up to four annual partial payments (minimum $500 or 5% of the balance) and interest accruing on unpaid amounts. Full payment becomes due upon sale, transfer, or death, and the bill requires the state to notify owners of these terms. This amendment to Michigan’s 1976 property tax law (MCL 211.761-762) is contingent on HB 4079 passing.
HB 4079 adjusts the income limit for homeowners aged 65 or older, or those totally and permanently disabled, who qualify for a property tax deferment on special assessments. Currently set at $34,900 as of October 2022, the bill replaces this fixed amount with an annual adjustment based on the Detroit-area Consumer Price Index (CPI), meaning the limit will rise or fall each year with local inflation. The state treasurer will calculate the new limit annually using the prior year's CPI data, rounding to the nearest dollar. This change directly affects eligible homeowners seeking to defer special assessments on their primary residences without immediate payment.
HB 4576 is the fiscal year 2025-2026 appropriations bill for the Michigan Department of Education. It authorizes specific funding levels for the department's operations and programs during the upcoming state fiscal year. The bill passed the House on June 11, 2025, with 56 ayes, 53 noes, and 1 excused. As a procedural appropriations act, it establishes the legal funding framework but does not detail specific programs or spending items beyond the authorized amounts.
HB 4543 changes how Michigan's home heating credit is adjusted annually. It replaces the use of the national U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) with the Detroit Consumer Price Index to calculate annual credit adjustments. This means the credit amount for eligible households will now reflect local cost-of-living changes in Detroit instead of national averages. The bill directly affects low-to-moderate income Michigan residents who claim the home heating credit on their state tax returns.
SB 689 amends Michigan's farmland preservation law to expand when landowners can give up (relinquish) farmland from development rights agreements. It adds two new scenarios: 1) land with pre-existing structures (up to 5 acres), and 2) land for a farm operator's residence (up to 2 acres), both requiring approval from local government and the state land use agency. If relinquishment occurs, landowners must repay tax credits received under the agreement, plus interest, via a lien recorded against the property. This directly affects farmers with existing farmland preservation agreements who wish to develop or use portions of their land for specific purposes.
SB 685 amends Michigan's farmland tax credit law (MCL 324.101-324.90106) by adding Section 36109b. It expands eligibility for the farmland tax credit to properties with existing legal agreements (like easements or leases) that were in place before a specific date, even if those arrangements complicate ownership. This change directly affects farmers and landowners who hold farmland subject to multiple pre-existing agreements, allowing them to qualify for the tax credit they previously might have been excluded from. The bill passed unanimously in the Michigan Senate on December 2, 2025, after being referred to the Agriculture Committee.
