Michigan House Bill HB5767

Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/19/26
• Refer: 3/19/26

Caption

Vehicles: driver training; instruction in work zone safety; require. Amends 2006 PA 384 (MCL 256.621 - 256.705) by adding sec. 40. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5768'26

Summary

HB 5767 would amend Michigan’s Driver Education Provider and Instructor Act to require all driver education students, beginning January 1, 2027, to complete a work zone safety education course before receiving a level 2 graduated driver license. The course must be approved by the Department of State, developed with the Department of Transportation, and last at least 30 minutes. It may be delivered online or in person as part of driver education, and must cover how to identify and navigate work zones, how to protect drivers and workers, the legal penalties for traffic violations in work zones, and safe driving around construction equipment and personnel. The bill also requires completion of the course to be documented and submitted to the Department of State, and directs the department to create and maintain a standardized curriculum across delivery methods. The department may work with transportation officials, law enforcement, and other stakeholders to update the course over time. The instruction must be provided at no additional cost to students. The bill is tie-barred to HB 5768, meaning it would not take effect unless that related bill is also enacted.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would add a new mandatory instructional component to Michigan driver education law and create a new prerequisite for issuance of a level 2 graduated driver license. It would impose responsibilities on the Department of State to approve, standardize, and track completion of the work zone safety curriculum, and would affect driver education providers by requiring them to incorporate the course without charging participants extra. The bill would also reinforce existing traffic safety and work zone enforcement policies by educating new drivers about legal obligations and penalties in construction zones.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or partisan division in the available record. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be framed as a traffic safety initiative focused on protecting both drivers and road workers, with an emphasis on education rather than punishment. The tie-bar to HB 5768 suggests the proposal is part of a broader legislative package, but the available materials do not show any expressed support or opposition.

Contention

The main policy questions likely concern implementation rather than the underlying goal of work zone safety. Potential points of contention include whether the added training requirement is necessary for all driver education students, how the mandate will be administered and documented, and whether the state and private driver education providers can absorb the requirement without increasing costs. Another possible issue is the tie-bar to HB 5768, which makes HB 5767 dependent on enactment of a separate bill and could affect whether the proposal advances as a package.