Watercraft: registration; invasive species prevention and remediation watercraft decals; provide for. Amends sec. 80124a of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.80124a).
Summary
HB5308 amends Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require the Secretary of State to make available an annual Great Lakes protection specialty watercraft decal. The decal is designed to depict some aspect of the Great Lakes or Great Lakes water quality, and it would be sold for $35. The bill ties the decal program to existing statutory provisions governing how the revenue is spent, and it allows the Secretary of State to determine where the decal should be placed on watercraft so it does not conflict with other required decals.
The bill also includes a sales threshold that acts as a sunset mechanism: if enough decals are not sold within the specified time periods, the Secretary of State must discontinue the program. The measure would take effect one year after enactment. Although the text refers to Great Lakes protection decals, the bill caption in the context describes the program as invasive species prevention and remediation watercraft decals, indicating the revenue is intended to support Great Lakes-related environmental protection efforts.
The bill’s impact on state law is limited but specific: it amends MCL 324.80124a to create or continue a specialty watercraft decal program administered by the Secretary of State, establishes the price, and preserves the revenue allocation framework in section 80124b. It affects watercraft owners who may choose to purchase the decal, as well as the state agencies responsible for design, sale, placement guidance, and enforcement clarity. It also supports funding for Great Lakes protection or related remediation activities through decal sales.
The available voting history suggests the bill was not controversial in committee, as it was reported with a recommendation with substitute H-1 by a 15-0 vote. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded debate to indicate opposition or detailed support arguments. Based on the unanimous committee vote and the environmental purpose of the measure, the general sentiment appears favorable and largely noncontentious.
The main point of potential contention is practical rather than ideological: whether the decal program will generate enough sales to justify continuing it, since the bill includes a minimum-sales requirement and automatic discontinuation trigger. Another possible issue is whether the specialty decal fee is an effective way to fund Great Lakes or invasive species-related programs, but no recorded objections are provided in the available materials.
Impact
HB5308 amends section 80124a of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to authorize an annual Great Lakes protection specialty watercraft decal, set its price at $35, and direct that proceeds be used under section 80124b. It gives the Secretary of State authority over decal design and placement to avoid confusion with other required watercraft decals, and it requires the program to end if minimum sales thresholds are not met. The bill affects the Secretary of State, watercraft owners who may purchase the decal, and the state programs funded by the revenue, including Great Lakes protection or invasive species prevention and remediation efforts.
Sentiment
The available context indicates broad support for the bill. It was reported from committee with a 15-0 vote and a recommendation with substitute H-1, suggesting consensus rather than division. No committee transcripts are available, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate, but the unanimous vote and environmental framing point to a generally positive reception.
Contention
There is little evidence of substantive opposition in the available record. The only notable issue built into the bill is the sales threshold and automatic discontinuation provision, which reflects concern about whether the specialty decal program will be viable and worth continuing. Any other contention would likely center on the effectiveness of using decal sales to fund environmental protection efforts, but no specific lawmakers, agencies, or stakeholder groups are identified as opposing the measure.