WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 5978

Vehicles: driver training; homeschool driver training; provide for. Amends sec. 310e of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.310e). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5977'26

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Matt Maddock and 2 co-sponsors

Creates a home-school specific path to obtain Level 1 and Level 2 graduated licenses with parental certification, behind-the-wheel experience, testing, and state oversight.

placed on third reading
#vehicles:drivertraining
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 5978

Overview

House Bill 5978 (2025-2026 Session, Michigan) amends the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.310e) to modify graduated driver licensing requirements for certain applicants and ties the bill to HB 5977, which would establish an exemption pathway for qualified home-schooled students from standard driver education training under the Driver Education Provider and Instructor Act. The combined package creates an alternate route for home-schooled students to obtain Level 1 and Level 2 graduated licenses, with specific age thresholds, training requirements, and parental certification protections. The effective date of HB 5978 is contingent on enactment of HB 5977.

Purpose and intent

  • Create a home-school-specific pathway to obtain graduated driver licenses (Levels 1 and 2) by substituting or supplementing traditional driver education training with a curriculum administered by a parent or legal guardian.
  • Ensure home-schooled students can qualify for Level 1 eligibility at a younger age (as early as 14 years, 9 months) and progress to Level 2 after meeting defined criteria.
  • Provide parental certification protections (immunity from civil liability and administrative penalties) when submitting home-school driver education certificates, and limit additional administrative requirements from the Secretary of State.

Key provisions and changes

  • Level 1 eligibility (Age and training)
    • A person at least 14 years 9 months old may receive Level 1 status if:
    • Passes vision and health requirements.
    • Is a qualified home-schooled student or has completed Segment 1 of a driver education course, including a minimum of 6 hours of on-the-road driving with an instructor.
    • Has written parental/guardian approval.
  • Level 1 privileges
    • Level 1 licensee may drive only when accompanied by a licensed parent/guardian or a licensed driver 21+ with parental permission.
    • Provisional period for Level 1 is at least 6 months.
  • Level 2 eligibility (Age and driving experience)
    • Level 2 status may be issued after at least 6 months as Level 1, and if:
    • The student is a qualified home-schooled student or has completed Segment 2 of driver education as defined in the bill.
    • No moving violations or at-fault accidents in the 90 days prior to application.
    • Certification by parent/guardian of at least 50 hours of behind-the-wheel practice, including at least 10 nighttime hours (Note: nighttime hours exempt if the license permits daylight driving only per other rules).
    • Completion of a Secretary of State–approved driving skills test (with testing entities screened for both state and FBI background checks).
  • Provisional monitoring and extensions
    • Violations or incidents during provisional periods may extend those periods as described in the bill.
    • Level 1 provisional period extends until 90 consecutive days without violations/accidents or until age 18 (whichever comes first).
    • Level 2 provisional period extends until 12 consecutive months without violations/accidents or until age 18 (whichever comes first).
  • Notice and recordkeeping
    • If provisions are expanded or extended under the bill, notice must be mailed to the licensee’s last known address.
  • Violations and compliance
    • Violations of Level 1 or Level 2 provisions are civil infractions.
    • Secretary of State must notify the licensee’s parent/guardian of violations or suspensions.
  • Identity and display
    • licensees must carry their graduated licensing status and display the card on demand by police.
  • Home-school definitions and protections
    • “Qualified home-schooled student” defined as a home-schooled student who has completed a curriculum administered by the parent/guardian, as defined in the related act.
    • The Secretary of State cannot impose additional requirements beyond those in HB 5977 and HB 5978.
    • Immunity provisions for parents/guardians submitting certificates in good faith (civil liability and administrative penalties) and for delays caused by the SOS in processing these certifications.
  • Enacting condition
    • HB 5978 explicitly requires HB 5977 to be enacted to take effect.

Affected parties and entities

  • Home-schooled students seeking driver licenses.
  • Parents or legal guardians of home-schooled students who would certify completion of a home-based curriculum and behind-the-wheel training.
  • Secretary of State (for certification processing, recordkeeping, and test administration).
  • Driving instruction providers (potentially assisted by the SOS in certifying driving skills tests).
  • Local and state government: no direct fiscal impact on local units; some costs to the Department of State described below.

Timeline and procedural notes

  • Effective date depends on enactment of HB 5977 (tied provisions).
  • If a certificate is submitted, SOS has up to 10 business days to approve or reject (with a curable defects list if rejected); if no timely decision is provided, the certificate is treated as approved.
  • SOS must keep a copy of the home-school certificate for at least three years after submission.

Fiscal impact

  • Projected costs for the Department of State from implementing the home-school exemption pathway.
  • Potential need to hire additional staff to manage new notifications and processing, offset by reductions in processing for standard driver education routes.
  • No anticipated fiscal impact on local governments.

Summary takeaway

HB 5978, in tandem with HB 5977, would create a home-school-specific route to obtain Level 1 and Level 2 graduated driver licenses, including required behind-the-wheel experience, standardized testing, and parental certification. It provides legal protections for parents who certify compliance and limits additional SOS requirements beyond those in the companion bill. The package emphasizes accommodating qualified home-schooled students while maintaining driving safety benchmarks and state oversight through the Secretary of State.

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

Sign in to ask a question.