Legislative Analysis
Phone: (517) 373-8080
EXEMPT VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY
http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
PERSONNEL FROM RECREATION PASSPORT FEE
Analysis available at
House Bill 6219 as introduced http://www.legislature.mi.gov
Sponsor: Rep. Denise Mentzer
Committee: Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
Complete to 12-5-24
SUMMARY:
House Bill 6219 would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act
(NREPA) to allow a Michigan resident who is an honorably discharged military veteran or
actively serving in a branch of the military to enter a state park without needing to purchase a
recreation passport for their vehicle if they obtain a hangtag, sticker, or other type of form that
identifies their vehicle as being owned by a veteran or active duty military personnel.
The item would have to be displayed in a manner determined by the Department of Natural
Resources (DNR). The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) would have to
verify a resident’s status as an honorably discharged veteran or actively serving military
member upon the resident’s request. After verification, DMVA would have to issue the resident
with a hangtag, sticker, or other type of form agreed to by the DNR for purposes of these
provisions. The hangtag or sticker would also allow its holder to enter a state recreation area
or state-operated public boat launch without having to pay for a recreation passport.
Finally, the bill would also allow anyone to use a state-operated public boating access site
where there is an opportunity to fish on a day that the DNR has designated as a Free Winter
Fishing Day or Free Fishing Day without needing to pay for the recreation passport.
MCL 324.74116 and 324.78119
FISCAL IMPACT:
House Bill 6219 is likely to reduce revenue for the Department of Natural Resources by
expanding exemptions to the recreation passport requirement for state park facilities.
Honorably discharged resident veterans and resident active-duty military personnel are not
exempted from the recreation passport requirement at present. The present number of
recreation passports sold to these military veterans and active-duty personnel is unclear,
consequently the potential lost revenue is uncertain. The sale of recreation passports generated
$42.4 million in revenue for FY 2022-23. This revenue is received by both the Department of
State and the DNR, where it supports state park operations, maintenance, capital outlay
projects, local public recreation, and forest recreation. The bill is unlikely to affect
departmental costs or local government costs or revenues.
The bill would create modest costs for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs that
would likely be absorbed by existing appropriations. The fiscal impact to the department would
depend on the number of military service verification requests submitted under the provisions
House Fiscal Agency Page 1 of 2
 of the bill, as well as the costs incurred from issuing documentation to eligible veterans or
active-duty military members
Legislative Analyst: Josh Roesner
Fiscal Analysts: Austin Scott
Aaron Meek
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their
deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
House Fiscal Agency HB 6219 as introduced Page 2 of 2


Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 324.74116, 324.78119
As Passed by the House: 324.74116, 324.78119