MichiganVotes.org is a free, nonpartisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy to provide concise, nonpartisan, plain English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. This report was released on Friday, September 9.
Michigan’s House and Senate met but held no votes this week. This report therefore describes certain bills proposing or revising the fees charged by governments.
Senate Bill 1133: Deed Registry Fee Increase
Introduced by Sen. Wayne Schmidt R-Traverse City, to increase the fee charged by a county registry of deeds from $2 to $4 to register deeds and other instruments, effective Jan. 1, 2023. Referred to committee, no d another action for the moment.
House Bill 4610: Raise Marriage License Fees
Introduced by Rep. Terry Sabo D-Muskegon, to increase county-imposed licensing fees for a marriage license from $20 to $50, except in Wayne County where no cap applies. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.
House Bill 6224: Prohibit Certain Additional Government Charges
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Yaroch R-Richmond, to establish that fees charged by the state for a government-mandated application, license, registration, examination, or similar item shall be reduced by the amount it “n ‘reasonable relationship to costs incurred’ by the state. Agencies should provide annual reports to statutory appropriations committees on the ‘reasonableness’ of their fees. Referred to committee, no further action at this time .
House Bill 6159 and 6161: Regulating the Sale of Insurance for Portable Electronic Devices
Introduced by Rep. Mike Mueller R-Fenton Township and Rep. Richard Steenland D-Roseville, to impose regulation and a state licensing mandate on the sale of portable electronic device insurance. This proposal includes a license fee of $1,000, plus a renewal fee of $500 every two years, with lower amounts for sellers of 10 or fewer policies per year. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.
House Bill 5961: Revise Canoe and Kayak Fees and Registration Exemptions
Introduced by Rep. John Damoose R-Harbor Springs, to extend the canoe and kayak exemption to boat owners required to register and pay a fee. Under current law, the exemption applies to non-motorized canoes and kayaks up to 16 feet in length. The bill would extend this 18 feet. Note: In the 1980s, the state imposed this mandate and was forced to repeal it and issue refunds due to public objections. Additionally, many current canoes and kayaks are over 16 feet (and many are over 18 feet as well). Referred to committee, no further action at this time.
House Bills 5358 and 5359: Imposing licensing mandates on hunting and fishing guides
Introduced by Rep. Gary Howell R-North Branch and Rep. John Cherry D-Flint, to impose licensing and detailed annual reporting warrants on persons who act as commercial “sport fishing guides” in inland waters, subject to a license fee of $150 ($300). for non-residents) and a fine of $500 for guiding without a license (first offence). Referred to committee, no further action at this time.
Senate Bill 975: Reducing Concealed Gun License Fees
Introduced by Senator John Bizon R-Battle Creek, to reduce the application fee for a state concealed gun license from $100 to $50. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.
Senate Bill 968: double fees to register a boat
Introduced by Senator John Bizon R-Battle Creek, to double the cost of state required boat registrations and add an additional $10. Fees currently range from $14 to $448 depending on size and would increase from $28 to $896. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.
Senate Bill 724: Dual Oil and Gas Extraction Royalty
Introduced by Senator Jeff Irwin D-Ann Arbor, to double regulatory fees imposed on drillers of oil and gas produced in this state and referred to as “monitoring, monitoring, enforcement and administration fees”, from 1 % to 2% of the market value of their production. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.
Senate Bill 575: Imposing Fees and Registration Warrants on Tobacco “Vaping” Sales
Introduced by Sen. Marshall Bullock D-Detroit, to impose an annual state licensing mandate of $100 per location on retail sellers of a “retail alternative tobacco product, vaping product, or nicotine product”, and also impose a registration mandate on vaping products. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.
Senate Bills 269 and 270: Reduce hunting license fees for certain non-residents
Introduced by Senator Curt VanderWall R-Ludington and Senator Ed McBroom R-Vulcan, to reduce non-resident hunting license fees for people who own property in Michigan and for people who lived in Michigan but who have since moved elsewhere. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.
House Bill 4004: Imposing a “literacy fee” on payday lenders
Introduced by Rep. Matt Hall R-Marshall, to impose a so-called $200 “literacy tax” on payday lenders, which would go into a new government’s “consumer education and access to financial services and literacy fund. The bill would also allow these lenders to provide “small loans” of up to $2,500 for 90 days, in addition to short-term “payday” loans. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.
