2013 House Bill 4630 / 2014 Public Act 470

Increase vehicle registration taxes

Introduced in the House

April 25, 2013

Introduced by Rep. Mike McCready (R-40)

To eliminate the current 10 percent reduction of vehicle registration (license plate) fees for a new vehicle's second, third, and fourth years of registration.

Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

May 7, 2014

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-6) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

May 8, 2014

Substitute offered

To adopt a version of the bill that also revises other vehicle registration tax details.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Ed McBroom (R-108)

To reduce the weight threshold of a lower registration tax imposed on trucks used to transport crops and livestock in farm operations.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Passed in the House 90 to 19 (details)

To reduce the number of separate vehicle types and categories specified in the law imposing an annual vehicle registration (license plate) tax. Reportedly the bill represents a tax increase of around $35 million per year, which would go to road funding. It is one of several bills in a House road funding package that together would increase road funding by around $500 million annually, mostly from repurposing current tax revenue and a relatively small amount from increased taxes and fees. See in particular House Bills 5459, 5477 and 5492.

Received in the Senate

May 13, 2014

Referred to the Committee on Infrastructure Modernization

May 21, 2014

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Substitute offered

To adopt a version of the bill that contains a much larger tax hike; see Senate-passed bill for more.

The substitute passed by voice vote

June 11, 2014

Amendment offered by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D-18)

To tie-bar the bill to House Bill 5452, meaning this bill cannot become law unless that one does also. HB 5452 would authorize school property tax exemptions.

Consideration postponed

Substitute offered by Sen. Randy Richardville (R-17)

To adopt a version of the bill that revises the proposed fees for semitrailers, pole trailers, trailer coaches and some other types of vehicle.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Sen. Goeff Hansen (R-34)

To cut the registration tax on ambulances to $10.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Sen. Jim Marleau (R-12)

To not increase the registration fee (tax) on trailers.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Sen. Morris Hood (D-3)

To reduce the maximum gross weight allowed for trucks by 30,000 pounds.

The amendment failed 15 to 23 (details)

Amendment offered by Sen. Glenn Anderson (D-6)

End the current one-time $75 trailer registration tax, returning to an annual tax on trailers; those who had already paid the one-time tax would be “grandfathered” until 2020.

The amendment failed 13 to 25 (details)

Failed in the Senate 18 to 20 (details)

To eliminate the current 10 percent reduction of vehicle registration (license plate) fees for a new vehicle's second, third, and fourth years of registration. This would represent a $145 million tax increase on vehicle owners. The bill would also increase the drivers license renewal fee from $18 to $25, and increase a number of other fees on different kinds of vehicles and trailers.

Motion to reconsider by Sen. Arlan Meekhof (R-30)

The vote by which the bill was defeated.

The motion passed by voice vote

Received

Amendment offered by Sen. Howard Walker (R-37)

To postpone the proposed elimination of gradual reductions in the new vehicle registration tax until 2016.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 21 to 15 (details)

To eliminate the current 10 percent reduction of vehicle registration (license plate) fees for a new vehicle's second, third, and fourth years of registration. This would represent a $145 million tax increase on vehicle owners, but it would not take effect until 2016. The bill would also increase the drivers license renewal fee from $18 to $25, and increase a number of other fees on different kinds of vehicles and trailers. However, with the Senate's unwillingness to pass a related $1.2 billion gas tax increase the bill's future is in question..

Received in the House

June 12, 2014

Dec. 11, 2014

Failed in the House 1 to 106 (details)

To concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill. The vote sends the measure to a House-Senate conference committee to work out the differences.

Received

Received in the Senate

Dec. 15, 2014

In the House

Dec. 19, 2014

Passed in the House 67 to 43 (details)

To increase vehicle registration taxes on heavy trucks, on cars after the first year of ownership, and on electric vehicles. Heavy truck owners would pay around $50 million more each year, and other vehicle owners $150 million more as the current fleet ages and the change is fully realized. However, that will only happen if voters approve increasing the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent in a May 5, 2015 election (see House Joint Resolution UU). Both measures are part of an approximately billion tax hike package that would generate $1.2 billion more each year for road repairs.

In the Senate

Dec. 19, 2014

Passed in the Senate 23 to 15 (details)

Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder

Dec. 31, 2014