Transportation

Michigan House Bill 6310 amends state watercraft laws to allow local governments to request temporary "no wake" or reduced speed zones year-round, rather than limiting these orders to the summer season. The bill permits county emergency management coordinators or sheriffs to establish these temporary limits for up to 14 days at a time to protect life and property during emergencies, with fines capped at $500 for repeat violations. It also clarifies that vessel operators must maintain slow speeds within 100 feet of shorelines where water depth is less than three feet, while allowing the governor to impose restricted wake zones during declared state disasters.

House Resolution 342 urges the U.S. House of Representatives to reject Amendment 041 to the BUILD America 250 Act, a provision that would shield rideshare and delivery companies from vicarious liability for injuries or damages caused by their drivers. The resolution argues that this amendment would prevent victims from holding platforms accountable under state law unless the company is found to be grossly negligent or criminally wrongdoers, citing concerns about sexual assault cases on these apps. By blocking this federal preemption, the bill aims to preserve states' authority to regulate liability and ensure companies can be held responsible for harms arising from their operations.

Michigan House Bill 6225 permanently reduces the state individual income tax rate to 3.9% starting in 2028, eliminating a previous automatic mechanism that could have lowered the rate further based on general fund revenue growth. The bill establishes a phased reduction schedule, lowering the tax from 4.15% in 2026 to 4.0% in 2027 before reaching the final rate. It also mandates specific annual deposits from income tax collections into the state school aid fund and the renew Michigan infrastructure fund, with the latter receiving $69 million per year beginning in fiscal year 2030.

Michigan House Bill 6273 amends the state vehicle code to update rules regarding speed limits in school zones. The bill allows county road commissions to permanently lower a school zone speed limit to 25 miles per hour upon request from a school district, without requiring a new traffic study. It also clarifies that temporary reduced speed limits can be set up to 30 minutes before and after school sessions, with flexibility for superintendents to adjust these times based on specific schedules or off-campus lunch periods.

HB 6256 creates a new Local Agency Disaster Relief Board Fund and an accompanying board within the Michigan Department of Transportation to provide financial assistance for repairing or replacing local road infrastructure damaged by declared emergencies. The bill allocates $3 million annually from the county road commission share and $2 million from the city and village share of the state's transportation fund to this new disaster relief program, with a total annual cap of $5 million and a maximum fund balance of $50 million. Local road agencies must exhaust other federal and state funding sources before applying for these grants, which can cover costs such as restoring roads and bridges, engineering design, land acquisition, and project administration. The board, composed of representatives from county and municipal associations along with nonvoting state officials, is responsible for establishing application criteria, reviewing requests within 180 days, and reporting annually to the legislature on fund utilization.

Michigan House Bill 6224 repeals the Comprehensive Road Funding Tax Act, which was enacted as Public Act 23 of 2025. This legislation removes specific state tax provisions that were previously established to generate revenue for road infrastructure projects. By eliminating these statutes, the bill directly affects taxpayers and state agencies responsible for collecting and managing those funds.

This bill updates Michigan's vehicle code to clarify definitions for mopeds and establish new licensing requirements for certain electric mobility devices. It specifically requires individuals under 18 to obtain a special restricted license to operate high-powered micromobility devices, such as electric scooters exceeding 500 watts or 20 miles per hour, without mandating a road test. The legislation also adjusts the legal definition of a moped to exclude electric bicycles and clarifies that power-driven mobility devices used by people with disabilities are not considered motor vehicles. Additionally, the bill sets specific fees for these new restricted licenses and outlines penalties for operating these devices without the proper authorization.

This bill amends the Michigan Motor Fuel Tax Act to establish a temporary gas tax holiday that activates if the statewide average price of gasoline reaches $5.00 per gallon before the end of 2026. Under this provision, the tax rate would drop to zero cents per gallon for a three-month period, with the lost revenue automatically transferred from a state stabilization fund to the Michigan Transportation Fund. The legislation also updates the general tax rate structure to include annual adjustments based on inflation or a fixed 5% increase, whichever is lower, while maintaining specific rates for fuel held in storage as of the end of 2025. Additionally, the bill clarifies reporting requirements for fuel suppliers and terminals to ensure accurate tracking of blended products and tax liabilities.

This bill requires Michigan businesses selling car parts and accessories to separately report and pay sales tax on those specific items starting October 1, 2027. To prepare for this change, the state Department of Treasury must define which products count as car parts by March 31, 2027, and create a new form for businesses to use. Companies will need to set up systems to identify these items at the point of sale and submit distinct payments for them alongside their regular monthly tax returns. The bill amends existing state tax laws to establish these new reporting and payment procedures without changing how the tax revenue is currently distributed.

This bill modifies how tax revenue from internet sports betting in Michigan is distributed among various state and local funds. It requires that thirty percent of the tax go to the city where the betting operator's casino is located for uses such as hiring street patrol officers, neighborhood development, public safety improvements, and road repairs. The remaining revenue is allocated to the state, with specific mandatory payments to the compulsive gaming prevention fund, a first responder coverage fund, and tribal governments for essential services. Any money left over after these designated expenses must be deposited into the state school aid fund to support public education.