Summary — HB 5279 (Michigan Vehicle Code amendments)
Status & timeline
- Filed: March 14, 2025.
- Introduced / first read: November 12, 2025 (Rep. Julie Brixie).
- Referred to: Committee on Government Operations (also recorded as referred to Delivery of Government Efficiency on 2025-04-07).
- Bill electronically reproduced: November 12, 2025.
- Current status: Pending in committee.
Purpose
- To expand the statutory definition of “veteran” to include commissioned officers who served in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps) and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHSCC), and to authorize special veteran registration plates for those individuals. The bill also amends driver’s license provisions (MCL 257.310) related to veteran designation.
Key provisions
- Amends section 310 of the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.310):
- Confirms that an individual may request a veteran designation on a Michigan operator/chauffeur license or ID.
- Requires the Secretary of State to verify veteran status by requiring proof of discharge/separation and the nature of discharge, and to consult the relevant uniformed service department or the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to determine acceptable proof.
- Authorizes the Secretary of State to share applicant information with the appropriate uniformed service department, the state department of military and veterans affairs, and county veteran services agencies for veterans benefits eligibility referral.
- Adds sections 803v and 803w (new statutory subsections in the vehicle code):
- (By bill title and placement) Establishes specialty motor vehicle registration plates for persons who served in the NOAA Corps or USPHS Commissioned Corps by treating those service members as “veterans” for the purpose of special plate eligibility. (Text of those sections not reproduced in the excerpt; placement indicates new special-plate authorizations.)
Who is affected
- Individuals who served in the NOAA Corps or the USPHS Commissioned Corps — they would newly qualify as “veterans” for the purpose of requesting veteran designation on state IDs/licenses and for obtaining veteran specialty license plates.
- Michigan Secretary of State (administration/verification of designations and plate issuance).
- Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and county veteran service offices (coordination/verification and referral roles).
- Potentially DMV administrative workload and specialty plate production/fee accounts.
Fiscal and procedural notes
- The bill text provided does not specify fees, plate design, or estimated costs. Creating and issuing new specialty plates may have administrative and production costs and could affect specialty plate revenue streams.
- Verification rules require coordination with federal uniformed services and state veteran agencies, which may require procedural updates in the Secretary of State offices.
Sponsors (selected)
- Primary sponsor: Rep. Julie Brixie. Multiple cosponsors including Brenda Carter, Penelope Tsernoglou, Angela Witwer, Emily Dievendorf, Joseph Tate, Natalie Price, Donavan McKinney, Tyrone Carter, and others.
Limitations
- The excerpt did not include the full text of the added sections (803v, 803w), so specific plate designs, fees, or effective dates are not available in the provided materials.
