Liquor: other; Identification allowed to verify age to purchase alcohol; expand. Amends 1998 PA 58 (MCL 436.1101 - 436.2303) by adding sec. 202.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Aragona and 3 co-sponsors

Expands which photo IDs can be used to verify a consumer’s age when purchasing alcohol in Michigan.

bill electronically reproduced 10/23/2025

Bill Summary — HB 5122 (2025)

Title: Liquor: other; Identification allowed to verify age to purchase alcohol; expand.
Statute amended: Michigan Liquor Control Code of 1998 (1998 PA 58, MCL 436.1101–436.2303) — adds section 202.
Introduced: March 13, 2025. Electronically reproduced/introduced (again) October 23, 2025. Sponsor: Rep. Alicia St. Germaine. Companion: SB 1265.

Purpose / Intent

HB 5122 expressly authorizes a consumer to use a defined set of “qualified photo identification” documents to verify the consumer’s age when purchasing or consuming alcoholic liquor under the Michigan Liquor Control Code. The bill clarifies and expands the types of photo IDs that may be used for age verification.

Key provisions

Adds a new section 202 to the Michigan Liquor Control Code authorizing use of a “qualified photo identification” to verify age.

Defines “qualified photo identification” to include the following (current, photo-bearing):

Michigan operator’s or chauffeur’s license; enhanced driver license.
Michigan official state personal identification card; enhanced state ID card.
Current operator’s or chauffeur’s license issued by another state.
Current state personal identification card issued by another state.
Current state government issued photo identification card.
Current United States passport or other federal government issued photo ID.
Current military photo identification card.
Current tribal photo identification card.
Current photo identification card issued by a local government.
Current student photo identification card issued by an educational institution.

Uses the term “consumer” as defined in section 203 of the code (section 203 text not included in the bill).

Who is affected

Consumers seeking to purchase or consume alcoholic liquor in Michigan (broader set of photo IDs may be accepted).

Retailers, servers, bartenders, and other licensees who check IDs — may have expanded list of acceptable documents for age verification.

Law enforcement and regulatory bodies enforcing liquor laws (clearer statutory list of acceptable IDs).

Educational institutions, tribal and local governments that issue photo IDs (their IDs are specifically listed).

Procedural status & timeline (selected)

Filed: March 13, 2025.

Committee activity (Trade, Workforce & Economic Development): public hearing 4/23/2025; reported favorably 4/25/2025; placed on calendar and considered in May 2025; laid on table subject to call 5/14/2025.

Electronically reproduced/introduced and referred to Committee on Regulatory Reform: October 23, 2025.

Companion bill in the Senate: SB 1265.

Potential effects and considerations

Clarifies and standardizes which photo IDs are acceptable for age verification, which may reduce disputes at point-of-sale and help consumers lacking standard state IDs.

Inclusion of student, local government, tribal, military, and federal IDs broadens acceptable documents compared with many statutes that list only state-issued driver’s licenses or state ID cards.

The bill does not change legal drinking ages or other substantive liquor sale rules; it strictly addresses acceptable forms of photo identification.

Implementation may require training and guidance for licensees to recognize and accept the newly enumerated ID types and to establish standards for assessing validity (expiration, tampering, etc.), which are not specified in the bill.