Michigan House Bill HB4084

Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/13/25
• Refer: 2/13/25
• Report Pass: 4/30/25

Caption

House Bill 4084 of 2025

Summary

HB4084 would amend Michigan’s public roads and transportation act to create a new noise abatement measure program within the Department of Transportation. The program is intended to fund the construction and maintenance of noise-reduction projects along state trunk line highways in places where no such measures currently exist. Eligible work includes projects the department undertakes directly at the request of local road authorities, as well as grants or loans to local road authorities for design, construction, or maintenance of noise abatement measures. The bill also creates a dedicated noise abatement measure fund in the state treasury. Money in the fund could come from any source, would be invested by the state treasurer, and could be spent only, on appropriation, to create and operate the program. The department would administer the fund for audit purposes and would be required to report annually to the legislature on applications received, approvals and rejections, and project descriptions.

Impact

The bill adds a new section to 1951 PA 51 and expands the Michigan Department of Transportation’s authority to finance and manage highway noise mitigation projects. It would establish a formal application, scoring, and review process for local road authorities seeking state assistance, require public posting of criteria and outcomes, and mandate annual reporting to transportation and appropriations committees. The measure would also create a new state fund and direct how those monies may be deposited, invested, and spent, thereby adding a new transportation-related funding stream and administrative program to state law.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests generally favorable committee sentiment toward the bill, as it was reported with recommendation with substitute H-2 by a 12-1 vote. That margin indicates broad support for the concept of state-funded noise abatement, likely reflecting interest in addressing highway noise impacts on nearby residents and local communities. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded debate to indicate broader public or legislative opposition in the materials supplied.

Contention

The main points of potential contention appear to be program design and prioritization rather than the underlying goal of noise reduction. The bill limits project selection through a weighted scoring system and specifies that project readiness may be considered but cannot be a major factor, which suggests concern about ensuring funds go to the most effective projects rather than the quickest-to-start ones. It also requires the department to publish rejected applications and reasons for nonselection, indicating an emphasis on transparency that may reflect concern about fairness and accountability in distributing limited funds. Another possible issue is the use of grants or loans and the scope of eligible measures, including sound walls and pavement texturing, which could affect cost and implementation choices for local road authorities.