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Bill Summary · HB 4493

Summary — HB 4493 (2025)

Title: Food: licensing; licensure exemptions; modify to include certain disabled individuals. (Amends sec. 4105 of 2000 PA 92, MCL 289.4105)

Purpose

The bill adds an express exemption to Michigan’s Food Law (2000 PA 92) so that individuals who operate concession locations under the requirements of 1978 PA 260 (laws regarding accommodations for blind and visually impaired persons) are not required to obtain licensure under the Food Law.

Key provisions

  • Amends MCL 289.4105 by adding subsection (1)(n) to exempt “an individual who operates a location under the requirements of 1978 PA 260, MCL 393.351 to 393.368” from the Food Law’s licensure requirements.
  • Retains the department director’s authority: subsection (2) continues to allow the director to require licensure if the activities are determined to constitute a food establishment.
  • Effectively removes the need for MDARD (Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development) food establishment licenses and related fee obligations (including certain county public health licensing fees and fees credited to the state restricted Dairy and Food Safety Fund under section 3119) for these exempt concession operations.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Blind or visually impaired individuals who operate concession stands/locations pursuant to 1978 PA 260 (often concessions on state-owned buildings/property that, with limited exceptions, must be owned or operated by a blind or visually impaired person).
  • Secondary: Local public health departments (possible small reductions in licensure fee revenue) and the state fund that collects certain food licensing fees.
  • Regulatory: MDARD retains enforcement authority generally under the Food Law but would not apply standard licensure to these specified concession operators unless activities rise to the level of a food establishment per the director’s determination.

Fiscal and regulatory impact

  • The House Fiscal Agency notes about 40 legally blind individuals were licensed to run concessions on state and federal property as of December 2024; some of those stands were licensed under the Food Law.
  • Exemption would eliminate associated state and local licensing fees for those operators. The fiscal analysis considers the impact on local and state fee revenue to be likely insignificant.

Procedural status / timeline

  • Introduced: March 12, 2025 (Rep. Jamie Thompson).
  • Passed House with immediate effect: June 24, 2025 (Roll Call #161: Yeas 101, Nays 4).
  • Referred to Committee on Regulatory Affairs: June 26, 2025.
  • Background: language is identical to Senate Bill 986 from the 2023–24 session (as previously passed by the Senate).

Statutory references

  • Amends: 2000 PA 92, sec. 4105 (MCL 289.4105).
  • Related: 1978 PA 260 (MCL 393.351–393.368); Food Law administration under section 2101; fees under section 3119.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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