SPECIAL REG. PLATES; ALLOW SPOUSES TO APPLY                               S.B. 1165 & 1183:

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                     REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 1165 (as reported without amendment)

Senate Bill 1183 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Senator Tom Barrett (S.B. 1165)

               Senator Mark Huizenga (S.B. 1183)

Committee:  Transportation and Infrastructure

CONTENT

Senate Bill 1165 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to allow the spouse of a person who was or is a member of the National Guard or the Armed Forces Reserve, or the spouse of a person who was a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces, to apply with the Secretary of State (SOS) for the appropriate special registration plate under the Code.

Senate Bill 1183 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to allow the spouse of a person who was a United States Armed Forces Pearl Harbor Survivor or a Purple Heart Medal recipient to apply with the SOS for the appropriate special registration plate under the Code.

Senate Bill 1183 is tie-barred to Senate Bill 1165.

MCL 257.803i (S.B. 1165)                                      Legislative Analyst:  Tyler P. VanHuyse

       257.803e (S.B. 1183)

FISCAL IMPACT

The bills would not have a significant fiscal impact on the State or local units of government.  The SOS's current practice for registration plates for current members or veterans of the US Armed forces, foreign wars, Purple Heart recipients, and the National Guard or US Armed Forces Reserves is not to charge the $5 service fee for specially designated registration plates. The bill would allow the spouse of a current member or veteran, or the survivor of a spouse who was a member of the aforementioned Armed Forces or Reserves groups, to continue to receive and display their specially designated registration plates without paying the fee.

The SOS already accounts for the loss in revenue from the exemption of the $5 service fee in its annual budget. The proposed changes could increase the number exemptions of the $5 service fee for those meeting the waiver criteria, but the lost revenue should be minimal and would be absorbed within annual appropriations.

Date Completed:  9-28-22                                               Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco, Jr.

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.