A Michigan House committee on Tuesday reported to the full state House two bills creating a state registration and regulation system for electric vehicle charging stations but took no action on legislation allowing EV charging stations at state highway rest stops.

Reported from the House Energy Committee were HB 4801 and HB 4802. The bills were reported with bipartisan support, but most committee Democrats either voted against or did not vote.

HB 4801 requires the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to set up a registration process for EV charging companies, allows those companies to charge consumers for their service and requires them to clearly display the cost on the charging unit. HB 4802 changes the state’s utility act, specifying an EV charging company is not a utility.

When the full House may act on the bills has not been announced. They would still have to be acted on by the state Senate before going to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The committee is still expected to act on the other bills in the package — HB 4803, 4804 and 4805 — which would allow charging stations at state highway rest stops. Committee Chair Rep. Joe Bellino (R) sponsored HB 4803. (See Mich. Legislators Expect Quick Action on EV Charging Bills.)

Rep. Ranjeev Puri (D), who worked for Stellantis (formerly Fiat-Chrysler) before his election, said while expanding EVs in Michigan is a top priority for him, the bills reported Tuesday didn’t go far enough.  He voted against reporting HB 4802, though he did support reporting HB 4801.

“Michigan has a chance to be at the forefront on this issue, but we have to do it right,” he said.