ALLOW TRANSPORTATION OF FIREARMS

IN VEHICLES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY

House Bill 6525 (H-1) as reported from committee

Sponsor:  Rep. Beau Matthew LaFave

Committee:  Natural Resources

Complete to 12-9-18

SUMMARY:

House Bill 6525 would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to allow an individual to transport or possess a loaded firearm in or upon a vehicle under certain circumstances.

Currently, an individual is generally prohibited from transporting or possessing a firearm in or on a vehicle, unless the firearm is unloaded and enclosed in a case, unloaded and carried in the trunk of a vehicle, or unloaded in a motorized boat.

The bill would add an exception to the above prohibition to allow an individual to transport or possess a loaded firearm in or upon any vehicle, including an ATV or a UTV, but only on private land and if the individual is, or is accompanied by or has the permission of, either of the following:

·         The owner of the private land.

·         The lessee of the private land for a term not less than one year.

ATV would mean a vehicle with three or more wheels that is designed for off-road use, has low-pressure tires, has a seat designed to be straddled by the rider, and is powered by a 50cc to 1,000cc gasoline engine or an engine of comparable size using other fuels.

UTV would mean a vehicle with four wheels that is designed for off-road use, has low-pressure tires, has a side-by-side seating arrangement with bench or bucket seating for each rider, and is powered by a 50cc to 1,000cc gasoline engine or an engine of comparable size using other fuels.

MCL 324.40111

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 6525 would not affect costs or revenues for the Department of Natural Resources or local governments.

POSITIONS:

The following organizations indicated support for the bill (12-5-18):

·         Michigan Freedom Fund

·         Michigan Open Carry

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Emily S. Smith

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Austin Scott

■ 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.