HISTORIC MILITARY VEHICLES                                              S.B. 344 (S-1), 345, & 346:

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                     REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 344 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Senate Bills 345 and 346 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Senator Tom Barrett (S.B. 344 & 346)

               Senator Erika Geiss (S.B. 345)

Committee:  Transportation and Infrastructure

CONTENT

Senate Bill 345 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to define "military surplus vehicle" and "historic military surplus vehicle".

Senate Bill 344 (S-1) would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to do the following:

-- Specify that a military surplus vehicle would be subject to the Code's registration and title provisions.

-- Specify that a military surplus vehicle could not be precluded from applying for a certificate of title or renewal of a registration plate if a form TR-54, vehicle number and equipment inspection, were completed by a police officer and it contained all of the equipment listed in the bill.

-- Allow the SOS to revoke a registration issued under the bill under certain circumstances.

Senate Bill 346 would amend Part 63 (Motor Vehicle Emissions Testing for West Michigan) and Part 65 (Motor Vehicle Emissions Testing for Southeast Michigan) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to exempt a military surplus vehicle from certain emission inspections.

Senate Bills 344 and 345 are tie-barred.

MCL 257.216 et al. (S.B. 344)                                    Legislative Analyst:  Tyler VanHuyse

       257.20a et al. (S.B. 345)

       324.6311 & 324.6512 (S.B. 346)

FISCAL IMPACT

Senate Bill 344 (S-1) could result in additional revenues for the Michigan Transportation Fund resulting from the revenue that would be generated from the $30 registration fee for a historic vehicle registration plate. The amount of additional revenue is indeterminate and would depend on the number of military surplus vehicles that met the registration guidelines outlined in the bill.  Also note that a historic vehicle registration plate is valid for 10 years, thus, any additional revenue for those plates is collected once every ten years.

Senate Bill 345 could have a minimal, positive fiscal impact on State revenues. The amount of additional revenue is indeterminate and would depend on the number of vehicles that became eligible under the bill. Currently, a decommissioned military surplus vehicle is not eligible to be registered as a street legal vehicle in Michigan. The vehicles may be titled as an off-road vehicle to be operated only on off-road trails but may not be officially registered; thus, no registration fee (or tax) is collected from these types of vehicles.

The bill would allow for military surplus vehicles to be registered as a historic vehicle meaning that the vehicle could be driven to participate in club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades, and similar events. Also, the use of historic vehicles is allowed during the month of August, as that month is considered an exhibition for the purpose of historic vehicles.

Currently, historic vehicles pay a single registration fee of $30 that is good for ten years. Under the bill, for each vehicle that became eligible for registration as a historic vehicle, the State would collect $30 every ten years. Again, the amount of additional revenue is indeterminate and would depend on the number of military surplus vehicles that registered under the bill.

Senate Bill 346 would have no fiscal impact on the State or local government. The Department does not currently administer a motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program.

Date Completed:  9-9-19                                                     Fiscal Analyst:  Joe Carrasco

                                                                                                          Abbey Frazier

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.