Vehicles: off-road; electronic transfer of title or interest in off-road vehicle or watercraft; provide for. Amends secs. 80304 & 81105 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.80304 & 324.81105).
Summary
Senate Bill 139 would amend Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to allow the Secretary of State to create and run an electronic system for transferring ownership of watercraft and off-road vehicles (ORVs) when the transaction is between private parties and no dealer is involved. Under current law, these vehicles must be transferred through paper title assignment and delivery requirements; the bill preserves those title requirements but adds an optional electronic transfer process if the department chooses to implement it.
The bill authorizes the Department of State to contract with one or more vendors to establish, implement, and operate the electronic system. It also requires that any such contract protect proprietary information and other information already protected under state law. If the system is created, private parties using it would have to provide whatever information the department determines is necessary to complete the transfer and notification process.
Impact
The bill would amend MCL 324.80304 and 324.81105 to add express statutory authority for electronic title transfer of watercraft and ORVs, expanding the administrative tools available to the Secretary of State without eliminating existing paper-based title rules. It would affect private sellers and purchasers of boats and off-road vehicles, as well as any third-party vendors contracted to operate the system, while leaving dealer transactions outside the new electronic process.
Sentiment
The available legislative history suggests broad support for the bill. It was reported favorably out of committee by a 10-0 vote and then passed the Senate 33-1, indicating strong bipartisan approval. No committee transcript was provided, but the vote totals suggest the proposal was viewed as a practical modernization of vehicle title processing.
Contention
The main policy issue appears to be the shift from traditional paper title transfers to an electronic system for private-party transactions. Potential points of concern include implementation details, data security, protection of proprietary information, and the department’s discretion to require additional information from users. The bill text does not show major opposition, but the lone negative Senate vote suggests at least one member had reservations about the change or its administration.
Vehicles: off-road; electronic transfer of title or interest in off-road vehicle or watercraft; provide for. Amends sec. 80304 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.80304).
Vehicles: off-road; electronic transfer of title or interest in off-road vehicle or watercraft; provide for. Amends sec. 81105 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.81105).
Vehicles: title; reference to electronic transfer of title or interest in vehicle; update. Amends secs. 233, 234, 239 & 240 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.233 et seq.).
Vehicles: title; reference to electronic transfer of title or interest in vehicle; update. Amends secs. 233, 234, 239 & 240 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.233 et seq.).
Vehicles: title; requirements for transfer of title by a dealer; provide for. Amends secs. 238, 806 & 810a of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.238 et seq.). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0739'25
In general provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in licensing of drivers, further providing for issuance and content of driver's license and for carrying and exhibiting driver's license on demand.
In general provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in licensing of drivers, further providing for issuance and content of driver's license and for carrying and exhibiting driver's license on demand.