Transportation (Ports)

This bill amends Michigan's highway law to clarify how state-owned property at the Gordie Howe International Bridge in Detroit can be used for commercial activities. It allows the state transportation department to lease facilities at international border crossings for selling goods intended for export and consumption outside the United States, as well as for customs brokering services. The legislation also permits the department to enter into agreements for electronic travel information devices, logo signage, and vending machine operations, with all generated revenue deposited into state funds. These provisions apply specifically to the Gordie Howe International Bridge, the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, and the International Bridge in Sault Ste. Marie.

SB 52 amends Michigan's Port Authority Act (1978 PA 639) to update financial rules for port authorities. It modifies how these authorities manage grant funds, issue revenue bonds, and use "ancillary financing facilities" like interest rate swaps or insurance contracts. The bill adds new language (Section 19a) and revises multiple existing sections to clarify financial operations. This procedural update directly affects port authorities managing state-owned port facilities, such as piers, docks, and related infrastructure, without creating new facilities or changing their core responsibilities.