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HB 4302

Vehicles: emergency vehicles; exception to commercial driver license for authorized emergency vehicles of Michigan Mutual Aid Box Alarm System; create. Amends sec. 312e of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.312e). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4301'25

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Greg Alexander and 21 co-sponsors

HB 4302 lets MABAS firefighters drive authorized emergency vehicles without CDL tests or endorsements if they meet firefighter driver standards, speeding mutual aid response.

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES
#lawenforcement:firepersonnel #vehicles:emergencyvehicles
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Bill Summary · HB 4302

Summary — HB 4302 (Michigan Mutual Aid Box Alarm System)

Sponsor: Rep. Mike McFall
Related/tie-bar: HB 4301 (both must be enacted for either to take effect)
Statutory changes: Amends section 312e of the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.312e); HB 4301 would amend MCL 257.2 and 257.698.
Status (as of June 2025): Passed by the Michigan House (June 4, 2025, given immediate effect); transmitted to Senate and referred to Committee on Veterans and Emergency Services (June 10, 2025). Companion: SB 1022.

Purpose

HB 4302 removes certain federal commercial driver license (CDL) testing and endorsement requirements for Michigan Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) employees or members who are operating authorized emergency vehicles — provided they meet the applicable firefighter driver training standards. The goal is to facilitate emergency mutual-aid deployments by reducing CDL-related barriers for qualified fire personnel operating MABAS vehicles.

Key provisions

  • Exempts a MABAS employee or member from provisions of the Michigan Vehicle Code that require commercial vehicle driving skills tests and certain endorsements when:
    • the person meets the applicable driver training standards for firefighters, and
    • the person is operating an “authorized emergency vehicle.”
  • HB 4301 (tied to this bill) defines an “authorized emergency vehicle” to include vehicles owned by MABAS (a public agency under the Urban Cooperation Act) when operated during an interlocal emergency under an interlocal agreement. HB 4301 also would permit those authorized MABAS emergency vehicles to be equipped with flashing/rotating/oscillating lights in red, white, amber, or green.

Who is affected

  • Primary: MABAS employees and member-firefighters who drive MABAS-owned vehicles during mutual-aid responses.
  • Secondary: Local fire departments participating in MABAS mutual-aid deployments, and state agencies responsible for driver licensing and vehicle equipment regulation.
  • Public safety impact: Aims to speed deployment of trained fire resources across jurisdictions by removing CDL-testing/endorsement requirements when alternate firefighter-specific driver training standards are met.

Background / Context

  • MABAS is a statewide mutual-aid agreement among fire departments that enables rapid sharing of resources (fire suppression, EMS, technical rescue, hazardous materials teams, etc.) across jurisdictions and statewide during emergencies.
  • The bills mirror legislation (HBs 5341 & 5342) from the 2023–24 session.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Filed: March 11, 2025; Introduced: March 25, 2025 (per House records).
  • Committee activity: Considered in Transportation & Infrastructure committee (public hearing, testimony, committee substitute considered, left pending); later reported without amendment and moved to second/third reading.
  • House action: Passed the House June 4, 2025 (roll call 108–0) with immediate effect; transmitted to Senate and referred to Veterans & Emergency Services committee June 10, 2025.
  • Effective date: Neither HB 4302 nor HB 4301 can take effect unless both are enacted.

Fiscal impact & positions

  • House Fiscal Agency: No apparent direct fiscal impact on state or local units of government.
  • Testimony: MABAS representative supported the bills; Michigan Department of State took a neutral position.

Notes

  • Legal references: MCL 257.312e (section amended by HB 4302); HB 4301 would amend MCL 257.2 and MCL 257.698.

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

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