HB 4842 updates Michigan's requirements for driver education instructor training programs. It mandates that approved programs must include exactly four specific courses covering driver task analysis, classroom development, vehicle skills, and practicum, with each course requiring at least 2 semester hours and 3 weeks of instruction. The bill also sets detailed qualifications for instructors, requiring either a master's degree in education or 1,500 classroom hours, 500 behind-the-wheel hours, and 3.5 years of teaching experience. These changes directly affect colleges, universities, and training providers seeking approval to offer instructor preparation programs, as well as individuals pursuing driver education instructor certification.
HB 4391 expands Michigan's vehicle code to allow law enforcement to test for intoxication using other bodily fluids beyond blood or breath, such as urine or saliva. It directly affects drivers suspected of operating a vehicle while impaired, updating sections 625a, 625c, and 625g of the 1949 Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.625a et seq.). The bill amends existing testing methods to include these additional fluids, providing more flexibility for officers during DUI investigations. The bill passed the Michigan House on July 17, 2025, with immediate effect.
SB 153 exempts certain aircraft parts and materials from Michigan's use tax when affixed to qualifying aircraft used by domestic air carriers. It applies to aircraft meeting specific weight requirements (e.g., 6,000+ pounds for post-1996 taxes) used for cargo, passenger transport, or mixed purposes. The bill also creates tax exemptions for aircraft temporarily in Michigan for maintenance, sales, or repairs (if removed within 15 days) and for interstate trucking equipment meeting usage criteria. These changes directly affect air carriers and motor carriers operating across state lines by reducing their tax burden on qualifying equipment purchases.
This resolution (HR 178) designates September 20-27, 2025, as "Michigan Trails Week" to celebrate the state's extensive trail system. It recognizes that Michigan's over 13,000 miles of trails support tourism, local businesses, public health, and environmental conservation. The resolution encourages residents and visitors to explore, maintain, and advocate for trails during this week, while directing copies to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or allocate funding.
HB 5160 modifies Michigan's rules for personalized vehicle registration plates. It updates fee structures for obtaining (a $8 initial fee plus $2/month for additional months) and renewing (a $15 fee) personalized plates, and clarifies that duplicate plates cost an extra $5. The bill affects Michigan vehicle owners who request personalized plates for eligible vehicles like passenger cars, trucks, or motorcycles. It also specifies how fees fund transportation programs and sets rules for plate expiration and duplicate requests.
HB 4184 increases Michigan's excise tax on aviation fuel from 3.10 cents to 4.00 cents per gallon. It directly affects fuel sellers, airlines, and airport operators by changing how this tax revenue is distributed. The bill modifies Section 203 of the Aeronautics Code to require 35% of the tax revenue to fund the state aeronautics fund and 65% to fund qualified airports. It also retains the 1.5-cent refund for airlines operating interstate flights and the exemption for fuel used in leaded racing fuel production.
SB 662 amends Michigan's Pure Michigan byway program to require the state Department of Transportation to obtain a trademark license from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) before designating routes as "Pure Michigan byways." It mandates that all existing "Michigan heritage routes" be officially designated as Pure Michigan byways by December 30, 2015, contingent on securing this MEDC trademark license. The bill affects state agencies responsible for highway planning and route designation, specifically changing the process for adopting the "Pure Michigan" branding. It does not create new funding or alter the program's core purpose, only formalizing the trademark requirement for route designations. The bill is tied to another pending measure (SB 631) and remains under committee review.
SB 667 updates Michigan's Motor Fuels Quality Act by removing references to the Michigan Strategic Fund from Section 5a of the law. The bill directly affects the state treasurer and the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, which manage the Renewable Fuels Fund. It simplifies administrative language without changing the fund's core purpose: promoting alternative fuels like biodiesel and E85 through grants, incentives for retailers, and supporting renewable fuel standards. The change is technical, updating outdated references while preserving existing funding mechanisms for renewable fuel development.
HB 4119 exempts sales of large aircraft (over 6,000 pounds) and certain parts/materials attached to them from Michigan's sales tax when used by commercial airlines for passenger or cargo transport. It specifically applies to domestic air carriers operating under federal aviation rules, covering both new aircraft purchases and maintenance-related transactions. Key conditions include requiring aircraft to leave Michigan within 15 days of temporary use (e.g., for evaluation or repairs) and ensuring they were not based or registered in Michigan before or after the transaction. This policy change directly affects commercial airlines and aircraft sellers, reducing tax liability on qualifying equipment purchases and maintenance services.
HB 4307 allows physicians and optometrists to voluntarily report patients with medical conditions affecting driving safety (like seizures, vision impairment, or loss of consciousness) to Michigan's Secretary of State. It specifies that for regular driver's licenses, doctors may recommend a minimum 6-month suspension, and for commercial licenses, a minimum 12-month suspension. The bill provides legal immunity to healthcare providers who report in good faith and document their concerns, protecting them from liability claims. This change modifies existing law to clarify reporting procedures and encourage safety-focused disclosures without making reporting mandatory.
