Transportation: carriers; limitation on driving hours; remove during a state of emergency. Amends sec. 1a of 1963 PA 181 (MCL 480.11a).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Matt Bierlein and 11 co-sponsors

The bill creates an automatic exemption from federal hours-of-service rules for vehicles delivering disaster or emergency aid during a state of disaster or emergency.

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

#stateagencies(existing):transportation #transportation:carriers

Purpose

HB 4344 amends section 1a of the Motor Carrier Safety Act (1963 PA 181; MCL 480.11a) to create an automatic, statutory exemption from federal hours-of-service rules (49 CFR part 395) for vehicles “traveling to assist with or directly assisting with a disaster or emergency” when a state of disaster or state of emergency has been declared under Michigan’s Emergency Management Act (1976 PA 390, MCL 30.401–30.421).

The change codifies an emergency flexibility similar to temporary executive orders issued during the March–April 2025 northern Michigan ice storm and related energy emergency, which suspended hours-of-service and certain weight/size limits for vehicles transporting fuel and emergency supplies.

Key provisions

Amends MCL 480.11a to adopt federal motor carrier safety regulations but adds this exemption:

49 CFR part 395 (driver hours-of-service limits) does not apply to a vehicle traveling to assist with or directly assisting with a disaster or emergency during a state of disaster or state of emergency declared under the Emergency Management Act.

The exemption applies only when the governor has declared a state of disaster or state of emergency under the Emergency Management Act (not to declarations made under other statutes, e.g., the state energy emergency authority under 1982 PA 191).

Other federal regulations adopted by the act (various parts of 49 CFR) remain in force unless otherwise specified by the statute’s existing modifications and cross-references.

Who is affected

Motor carriers and drivers engaged in transporting fuel, generators, food, water, medical supplies, equipment, or other direct-assistance shipments to areas covered by a state of disaster or emergency declaration.

State and local emergency response coordinators and law enforcement who implement and enforce motor carrier rules during declared emergencies.

The general public indirectly benefits from potentially faster delivery of critical supplies during declared emergencies.

Impact and considerations

Practical effect: during a qualifying state declaration, drivers assisting with disaster response are not bound by federal hours-of-service limits, allowing longer driving/working periods to expedite relief deliveries.

Safety trade-offs: relaxing HOS limits can increase the risk of driver fatigue; the bill does not remove other motor carrier safety requirements unless separately specified.

Fiscal: House Fiscal Agency concluded no apparent direct fiscal impact on state or local government.

Stakeholder positions: testified support from trucking, petroleum, propane, electric cooperative, and county road associations; Department of State took a neutral position.

Procedural timeline (selected)

Introduced/Filed: March–April 2025 (filed March 11; House introduction April 17, 2025).

Passed House and Senate in May 2025 (House concurrence with Senate amendments May 23).

Sent to Governor May 26, 2025; signed June 20, 2025.

Effective September 1, 2025.

This bill formalizes an emergency hours-of-service exemption to speed delivery of critical supplies during declared state disasters/emergencies, reflecting practices used during the 2025 northern Michigan storm and energy emergency.

Bill