HB 4344 Michigan House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Transportation: carriers; limitation on driving hours; remove during a state of emergency. Amends sec. 1a of 1963 PA 181 (MCL 480.11a).

HB 4344 removes driving hour limits for commercial motor vehicle drivers during declared state emergencies. It specifically exempts drivers traveling to assist with or directly helping during disasters from federal hours-of-service rules (49 CFR part 395) under Michigan's Emergency Management Act. This change directly affects commercial drivers transporting goods or people in support of emergency response efforts when a state of emergency is active.

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

Governor

Introduced Apr 17, 2025 Last action May 29, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

House Introduced Bill → As Passed by the House · 5 edits · May 21, 2025

MODERATE

This bill updates Michigan's Motor Carrier Safety Act to incorporate specific federal hazardous materials and motor carrier safety regulations into state law. The changes clarify which federal regulations are adopted by the state and establish how state agencies should interpret federal terminology when enforcing these rules.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of adopted federal regulations to include specific hazardous materials provisions and clarifies that certain public transit buses and non-commercial vehicles are exempt from specific motor carrier safety requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific language clarifying that hazardous materials regulations apply to agricultural products only when no federal exception exists under 49 CFR 173.5.

Modified hours of service regulations to exempt vehicles assisting with disaster or emergency response during declared states of emergency.

DEFINITION

Added new provision stating that federal agency names and titles in the adopted regulations refer to Michigan state agencies (Department of State Police and Michigan State Transportation Department).

EXEMPTIONS

Added explicit exemption for buses operated by public transit agencies under various municipal and state transportation authority acts.

Added exemption for non-commercial vehicles operating in intrastate commerce from certain motor carrier safety regulations.

Floor votes · House May 21, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 29, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

upper

May 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED BY HOUSE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

upper

May 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

passed; given immediate effect Roll Call #126 Yeas 103 Nays 2 Excused 0 Not Voting 5

lower

May 13, 2025

Committee

referred to second reading

lower

May 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

reported with recommendation without amendment

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Committee

referred to Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Introduced

introduced by Representative Rep. Dave Prestin

lower

1 primary · 11 co-sponsors