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HB 5175

Highways: construction and repair; 10-year warranty contract on state road projects; require. Amends 1951 PA 51 (MCL 247.651 - 247.675) by adding sec. 13c. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5176'25

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Greg Alexander and 6 co-sponsors

Michigan requires state road contractors to provide 10-year warranties on construction/repair work, potentially increasing project costs while shifting maintenance liability to contractors.

bill electronically reproduced 10/30/2025
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Bill Summary · HB 5175

Legislative bill overview

HB 5175 amends Michigan's transportation code to require contractors on state road projects to provide 10-year warranty coverage on construction and repair work. The bill is tied to HB 5176, indicating the two bills are intended to work together as a legislative package.

Why is this important

Warranty requirements on public infrastructure projects affect both taxpayer costs and road quality accountability. A 10-year warranty could incentivize better construction practices and shift some long-term maintenance costs from the state to contractors, but may also increase initial project bids and contractor insurance requirements.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost implications: Longer warranties typically increase upfront project costs through contractor insurance, bonding, and risk premiums that taxpayers ultimately pay
  • Contractor availability: Smaller or regional contractors may exit state bidding processes if warranty requirements make projects economically unfeasible
  • Definition and enforcement: The bill lacks detail on what constitutes warranty coverage, what defects trigger claims, and how disputes between the state and contractors will be resolved
  • Comparison to current practice: Unclear whether Michigan road projects currently have shorter warranties, making it unknown how significant this change would be
  • Tie-bar dependency: The bill's full impact depends on HB 5176's content, which is not provided here

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

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