Sen. Lana Theis, R-Brighton, is pushing back against a budget proposal that would force every Michigan driver to pay for a state parks pass, regardless of whether they use or even have access to the state’s park system.

On Tuesday, Theis was the only Republican to vote against advancing the budget out of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee, citing what she calls an unfair and shortsighted approach to solving the Department of Natural Resources’ revenue problems.

In a Facebook post following the vote, Theis said the policy change would force every registered vehicle owner in Michigan to pay an added fee through their license plate renewal, effectively removing the current opt-in system that allows drivers to decide whether they want to support the parks.

“Fewer people are using the parks, and revenue is down. But instead of figuring out why, they’re slapping on another mandatory fee and calling it a fix,” Theis wrote.

She pointed to last year’s proposal from parks advocates, which called for simply raising the cost of the Recreation Passport. This year, she said, the plan has shifted to removing the choice altogether, charging all Michigan drivers regardless of usage.

Theis said she met with lobbyists and advocates for the parks last year and asked a basic question: “How much does a parks pass cost today?” Not a single person in the room could answer.

“If they don’t even know what they’re charging, why should we trust them to force every Michigander to pay more?” she said.

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Currently, drivers can choose to pay $14 for an annual state park pass when they renew their license plates. The new plan would make the pass a default charge, eliminating the opt-out option and pulling in millions in new revenue from drivers who may never set foot in a state park.

Theis argued that this approach disproportionately impacts working families who are already dealing with higher costs across the board.

“Every year, Lansing finds a new way to nickel-and-dime people,” she said. “Instead of imposing another fee, we should be asking tough questions about why park attendance is down and how to better serve residents with the resources we already have.”

The budget now moves to the full Senate for further consideration. Theis said she will continue to advocate for transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility as the process continues.