Committee hears testimony supporting bill to make voter‑registration forms available at DNR license points

House Bill 4,136, introduced to the House Committee on Election Integrity, would require the Michigan Secretary of State to provide voter registration applications to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and for those applications to be made available to people applying for hunting, fur harvester or fishing licenses, both online and in person.

Mae Bowers, legislative director for the bill sponsor Representative Paquette, told the committee the bill is "pretty straightforward and short." She said the measure would expand registration opportunities through existing service points while clarifying that the DNR would not become a designated voter registration agency and would not collect completed applications itself. Any completed application would still need to be returned to a proper agency such as a local clerk or the Secretary of State.

Why this matters: Supporters said the DNR is a regular point of contact for many Michiganders — particularly in rural areas — and that making forms available at license‑issuance points would lower barriers to registration. The proponents told the committee the bill builds on recent Michigan reforms such as same‑day registration and automatic registration.

Witnesses in support included Tom Stewart, director of policy for Secure Democracy USA, who described HB 4,136 as "simple, straightforward, and a common sense measure requiring the secretary of state to provide DNR with voter registration applications," and Melanie Macey, policy and government affairs director at Promote the Vote, who said the bill "offers a simple but meaningful opportunity to connect civic engagement with everyday life." Kyle Zawake, legislative director at the ACLU of Michigan, also testified in support and said the bill would reach eligible voters who might otherwise be missed.

Committee members asked clarifying questions. Representative Outman asked whether the DNR had been consulted; Bowers said the DNR had taken a neutral position and noted the agency indicated possible minor cost increases owing to new contractual agreements with vendor agents but did not provide specific numbers despite follow‑up requests. The bill, she said, would require the DNR to display and make the applications available and to provide an online link when licenses are issued electronically.

Public comment in support was entered by multiple organizations; the committee read supporting comment cards that included Sherry Ritchie representing Pure Integrity Michigan Elections, Stand Up Michigan and the Freedom Alliance, and Erin Shore representing the Michigan Department of State (card only; no oral testimony recorded). The hearing produced no formal vote and no committee action on the bill at this session.

The committee moved on after the testimony and card reads without taking a vote.