2013 House Bill 4254 / Public Act 36

Exempt “electric carriages” from motor vehicle regulations

Introduced in the House

Feb. 14, 2013

Introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R-19)

To exempt “electric carriages” from regulations and taxes authorized under the Michigan vehicle code. These are defined as “a horse-drawn carriage that has been retrofitted to be propelled by an electric motor instead of by a horse and that is used to provide taxi service.” The bill would benefit a Detroit operation called "Andre's Carriage Tours" by letting it operate statewide.

Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

March 5, 2013

Reported without amendment

Without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.

March 14, 2013

Passed in the House 109 to 0 (details)

Received in the Senate

March 19, 2013

Referred to the Committee on Transportation

April 17, 2013

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

May 8, 2013

Substitute offered

To adopt a version of the bill that uses this as a "vehicle" for a measure to ban hand-held cell phone use by truck drivers, and bans cell phone use and texting by school bus drivers.

The substitute passed by voice vote

May 9, 2013

Passed in the Senate 35 to 0

To ban using a hand-held mobile telephone to talk while operating a commercial motor vehicle or school bus. Also, to exempt “electric carriages” from regulations and taxes authorized under the Michigan vehicle code. These are defined as “a horse-drawn carriage that has been retrofitted to be propelled by an electric motor instead of by a horse and that is used to provide taxi service.” The bill would benefit a Detroit operation called "Andre's Carriage Tours" by letting it operate statewide.

Received in the House

May 9, 2013

May 14, 2013

Passed in the House 106 to 0 (details)

Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder

May 21, 2013