2023 House Bill 4869

Highways: bridges; Mackinac Bridge toll; eliminate.

A bill to amend 1952 PA 214, entitled “An act authorizing the Mackinac bridge authority to acquire a bridge and a utility tunnel connecting the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan, including causeways, tunnels, roads and all useful related equipment and facilities, including park, parking, recreation, lighting, and terminal facilities; extending the corporate existence of the authority; authorizing the authority to enjoy and carry out all powers incident to its corporate objects; authorizing the appropriation and use of state funds for the preliminary purposes of the authority; providing for the payment of the cost of the bridge and authorizing the authority to issue revenue bonds payable solely from the revenues of the bridge; granting the right of condemnation to the authority; granting the use of state land and property to the authority; making provisions for the payment and security of bonds and granting certain rights and remedies to the holders of bonds; authorizing banks and trust companies to perform certain acts in connection with the payment and security of bonds; authorizing the imposition of tolls and charges; authorizing the authority to secure the consent of the United States government to the construction of the bridge and to secure approval of plans, specifications, and location of the bridge; authorizing employment of engineers regardless of whether those engineers have been previously employed to make preliminary inspections or reports with respect to the bridge; authorizing the state transportation department to operate and maintain the bridge or to contribute to the bridge and enter into leases and agreements in connection with the bridge; exempting bonds and the property of the authority from taxation; prohibiting competing traffic facilities; authorizing the operation of ferries by the authority; authorizing the creation of the Mackinac Straits corridor authority; authorizing the operation of a utility tunnel by the authority or the Mackinac Straits corridor authority; providing for the construction and use of certain buildings; and making an appropriation,” by amending section 12 (MCL 254.322), as amended by 2004 PA 336.

AI Analysis – Experimental

The bill proposes amendments to the 1952 PA 214, which authorizes the Mackinac Bridge Authority to manage a bridge and utility tunnel connecting Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas, along with related facilities.

Introduced in the House

June 28, 2023

Introduced by Rep. James DeSana (R-29) and eight co-sponsors

Co-sponsored by Reps. Steve Carra (R-36), Matt Maddock (R-51), Rachelle Smit (R-43), David Prestin (R-108), Jay DeBoyer (R-63), Cameron Cavitt (R-106), Neil Friske (R-107) and Greg Markkanen (R-110)

Referred to the Committee on Transportation, Mobility and Infrastructure