Vehicles: registration; recreation passport fee; include in renewal of vehicle registration unless applicant opts out. Amends sec. 805 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.805).

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Julie Brixie

Recreation Passport is added to vehicle registration as opt-out with a separate $15 donation option, integrating the fee into renewal payments and transferring monthly revenue to t

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

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Purpose

HB 5428 changes how Michigan’s Recreation Passport fee (the vehicle admission fee for state parks, recreation areas, and DNR-operated boat access sites) is presented and collected during motor vehicle registration and renewal. The bill moves from a separate “opt‑in” line for the passport to an integrated “opt‑out” presentation and adds an optional donation line to support parks.

Key provisions

Fee presentation: The recreation passport amount is combined with the vehicle registration/renewal payment as a single line on registration forms (online and written). Vehicle owners are given a separate checkbox to decline the recreation passport (i.e., opt out).

Statutory fee amounts (as written in the H‑1 substitute): $10.00 for a vehicle, $5.00 for a motorcycle; $20.00 for 2‑year vehicle registrations (i.e., double the annual amount). The state treasurer will annually adjust these amounts to reflect CPI changes by August 1 each year.

Optional donation: Adds a separate optional $15.00 donation box on registration/renewal forms; donations collected by the Secretary of State are deposited as recreation passport revenue.

Form language/format: The Secretary of State and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) must agree on the format and language for online, electronic, and written application formats. Changes must be implemented by January 1, 2026.

Authorization period: Payment of the recreation passport fee authorizes vehicle entry into state parks, recreation areas, and designated boat launches for the same duration as the vehicle registration.

Revenue transfers: The Secretary of State must transfer recreation passport revenue to the DNR at least monthly for deposit according to existing statutory distribution rules (MCL 324.2045).

Who is affected

Vehicle owners (non‑commercial): will see the passport fee included in their registration payment by default but can decline it.

Secretary of State: will implement form changes, collect donations, and transfer revenue monthly to DNR.

Department of Natural Resources: will receive deposited revenues and must coordinate form language/format with the Secretary of State.

Local governments and parks: potentially affected indirectly through changes in revenue and distribution (see related bill HB 5873 below).

Fiscal impact and related legislation

Revenue effect depends on behavioral response to the opt‑out presentation. The optional $15 donation is likely to increase DNR revenue to some degree.

The House Fiscal Agency notes participation has been ~40% in recent years; an opt‑out format may raise participation and receipts but the magnitude is uncertain.

HB 5428 is linked to HB 5873 (companion) which would change the distribution formula for passport revenue based on a participation threshold (55%). If participation ≥55%, a larger share would shift to local recreation facility funding (20% vs. 10%) and the share for state park capital/operations would be reduced from 80% to 70%.

Timeline & procedural status

Form changes to be implemented by January 1, 2026.

Treasurer to set CPI adjustments by August 1 annually.

Legislative status (selected): Passed the House (H‑1 substitute adopted); as of the latest sheet this bill is referred to the Committee on Government Operations / higher committees per legislative calendar. (See bill history for detailed actions and dates.)

Bill