Michigan Senate Bill SB0662

Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 10/30/25
• Refer: 10/30/25

Caption

Economic development: other; 1993 PA 69; amend to reflect elimination of the Michigan strategic fund. Amends secs. 4 & 7a of 1993 PA 69 (MCL 247.954 & 247.957a). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0631'25

Summary

SB 662 amends Michigan’s Pure Michigan byways law, which governs how certain highways and road segments are designated for scenic, tourism, and heritage purposes. The bill keeps the existing requirement that the Department of Transportation consider the “complete highway” concept—balancing safety, utility, economy, and beauty—and it continues to allow designation of road portions as Pure Michigan byways only if the department secures a trademark license for use of the “Pure Michigan” name. The bill also requires the department to designate all routes that were already Michigan heritage routes as of December 30, 2014 as Pure Michigan byways within one year, again contingent on obtaining the trademark license. In practical terms, this would convert the existing heritage-route system into the Pure Michigan byway system and expand the legal framework for branding and managing those routes under the Pure Michigan name.

Impact

The bill would amend sections 4 and 7a of 1993 PA 69, affecting the Department of Transportation, local governmental agencies, and any routes designated under Michigan’s scenic byway and heritage route programs. It would strengthen the role of the Pure Michigan brand in highway designation and require local governments to take actions necessary to protect the integrity of designated routes under department criteria. The bill is tie-barred to SB 631, so it would not take effect unless that related bill becomes law.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be a technical and branding-related update within the state’s economic development and tourism framework rather than a controversial policy change. The overall tone of the legislation is administrative and promotional, focused on consolidating route designations under the Pure Michigan identity.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is the requirement that the Department of Transportation obtain a trademark license from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation before using the “Pure Michigan” name for byways. That condition ties the highway designation program to trademark and branding authority, which could raise questions about agency control, licensing, and implementation. Another possible issue is the mandatory conversion of all existing Michigan heritage routes into Pure Michigan byways, which may affect local route management and preservation priorities. However, no specific objections or supporters are documented in the provided record.