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HB 4195

Traffic control: driver license; citizenship or legal presence requirement for obtaining a driver license; remove. Amends secs. 50a, 51a, 232, 302, 303, 307 & 314 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.50a et seq.).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kelly Breen and 18 co-sponsors

The bill removes citizenship or legal presence from residency tests under the Michigan Vehicle Code and restricts SOS data use for immigration enforcement.

referred to Committee on Government Operations
#stateagencies(existing):state #trafficcontrol:driverlicense
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Bill Summary · HB 4195

HB 4195 — Summary (Michigan Vehicle Code amendments)

Status: Introduced March 2025; referred to Committee on Government Operations
Primary sponsor: Rep. Brandun Schweizer

Purpose

HB 4195 amends several sections of the Michigan Vehicle Code (1949 PA 300, MCL 257.50a et seq.) to remove requirements that an individual demonstrate U.S. citizenship or legal presence to be treated as a resident for purposes of the Code and to limit use of Secretary of State (SOS) records for immigration enforcement. The bill also makes related changes to record‑sale practices and certain licensing exemptions.

Key provisions

  • Residency definition (MCL 257.51a — Sec. 51a)

    • Removes language requiring an individual to “establish that he or she is legally present in the United States.”
    • Adds an explicit rule: citizenship or immigration status must not be considered in determining whether an individual is a resident of Michigan for purposes of the Vehicle Code.

  • Secretary of State records and bulk sales (MCL 257.232 — Sec. 232)

    • Clarifies permitted disclosures of SOS records to governmental agencies and authorized private entities acting on their behalf.
    • Prohibits furnishing lists of information for the purposes of immigration enforcement.
    • Requires safeguards (contracts, memoranda of agreement, recordkeeping, inspections) for bulk purchasers and resellers of personal information; restricts sale/use for marketing or solicitations.
    • Caps price per 1,000 bulk records (references existing cap not to exceed $25.00 after Jan 1, 2023) and directs proceeds of such bulk sales to the transportation administration collection fund through Oct 1, 2027.
    • Prohibits disclosure of lists based on driving behavior or sanctions to nongovernmental entities.

  • Licensing exemptions and eligibility language (MCL 257.302 — Sec. 302)

    • Edits multiple exemption clauses to remove or rephrase language tying eligibility to U.S. citizenship or being otherwise “eligible to be issued an operator’s license” in specific contexts (e.g., farm equipment operation), aligning with the change to the residency definition.

  • Other sections amended

    • The bill amends sections 50a, 232, 303, 307, and 314 as well; the text supplied revises definitions and certain procedural or privacy protections related to SOS records and licensing exemptions. (Full statutory text should be consulted for line‑by‑line changes.)

Who would be affected

  • Undocumented immigrants and others without proof of legal presence: the residency change would make immigration status irrelevant to being considered a “resident” under the Vehicle Code and would remove explicit legal‑presence language tied to residency determinations.
  • Secretary of State (administration): changes SOS record disclosure rules, contracting and recordkeeping obligations for bulk purchasers, and restrictions on use of data for immigration enforcement or marketing.
  • Entities that purchase bulk driver/vehicle records (private vendors, researchers, governmental contractors): face contract, recordkeeping, and use restrictions; pricing and revenue handling rules apply.
  • Law enforcement and immigration authorities: restricted access/use of SOS lists for immigration enforcement purposes.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced in March 2025 and read; referred to the Committee on Government Operations for consideration. (Legislative activity in the provided materials includes multiple readings and committee referrals; consult the legislative clerk for the most current status.)

Potential impacts to consider

  • Public safety and licensing: proponents argue broader access to licenses can improve road safety and vehicle insurance coverage; opponents may raise concerns about application verification or federal compliance.
  • Privacy and data‑use: tighter limits on bulk data sales and bans on using SOS lists for immigration enforcement change how personal driving records may be shared and reused.
  • Administrative effects: SOS will need to update guidance, contracts, and recordkeeping practices; there may be modest revenue and operational impacts tied to record‑sale proceeds and new compliance obligations.

Note: The document provided also contained unrelated legislative text (an Illinois income tax bill with the same bill number). This summary focuses on the Michigan Vehicle Code changes described as HB 4195. For drafting details, consult the full bill text and the Legislative Service Agency analysis.

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

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