MILITARY SURPLUS VEHICLE; DEFINE                                                   H.B. 4866 (H-2):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                     REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 4866 (Substitute H-2 as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Steven Johnson

House Committee:  Transportation

                             Ways and Means

Senate Committee:  Transportation and Infrastructure

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to define "military surplus vehicle" and specify that "historic vehicle" would include a military surplus vehicle that was over 25 years old.

MCL 257.20a et al.                                                   Legislative Analyst:  Tyler VanHuyse

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill could have a minimal, positive fiscal impact on State revenue. 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 registered; therefore, 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 uses. Also, the use of historic vehicles is allowed during the month of August as August is considered an exhibition for the purpose of historic vehicles.

Currently, historic vehicles pay a single registration fee of $30 that provides for a ten-year registration. Under the bill, for each vehicle that became eligible to be registered as a historic vehicle, the State would collect $30 every ten years. The amount of additional revenue is indeterminate and would depend on the number of military surplus vehicles that register under the new provisions proposed in the bill.

Date Completed:  10-2-20                                                    Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco 

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.