SB 709 Michigan Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Highways: memorial; criteria for highway renaming; provide for. Amends 2001 PA 142 (MCL 250.1001 - 250.2092) by adding sec. 1b. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0708'25

SB 709 establishes formal criteria for renaming Michigan highways to honor veterans or historical figures. It amends Michigan's highway law (MCL 250.1001-250.2092) by adding Section 1b, requiring the Michigan Department of Transportation to adopt specific procedures for such requests. The bill directly affects state transportation decisions and local communities seeking to rename roads. It mandates that renaming proposals must include historical significance and public input, but does not authorize specific name changes. This procedural bill focuses on creating a standardized process for highway memorials.

Issues: ✓ Veterans

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Nov 13, 2025 Last action Dec 4, 2025

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What changed between versions

Senate Introduced Bill → Substitute (S-2) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to significantly narrow the eligibility criteria for memorial designations. The original version allowed memorials for a broad range of subjects, including organizations and mass-casualty events. The new version restricts eligibility primarily to individuals who died in the line of duty (service members, uniformed officers, or first responders) and events directly related to their deaths.

Scope change

The scope of the bill was narrowed from a broad list of eligible subjects to a specific focus on line-of-duty deaths and related military events.

ELIGIBILITY

Replaced a broad list of eligible subjects with a specific requirement that the subject must be a service member, uniformed officer, or first responder who died in the line of duty.

Restricted eligibility for military units, operations, events, or awards to only those whose mission is directly related to service members, uniformed officers, or first responders who died in the line of duty.

Removed eligibility for general organizations, groups, or individuals not connected to line-of-duty deaths.

Removed eligibility for mass-casualty events as a standalone category.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Dec 4, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WITH SUBSTITUTE (S-2)

upper

Dec 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

REPORTED FAVORABLY WITH SUBSTITUTE (S-2) 12/2/2025

upper

Nov 13, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

upper

Nov 13, 2025

Introduced

INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ERIKA GEISS

upper

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors