Two bills affecting certified public accountants advanced through the House Finance Committee on Oct. 28.

Vice Chair Frisbie and lobbyists representing the Michigan Association of CPAs asked the committee to adopt changes the profession and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs recommended. HB 48-92 would eliminate a duplicative firm-level license for CPAs who operate as sole proprietorships; the committee adopted an H‑1 substitute that moves the effective date to 90 days after enactment (roll call recorded: 13 aye, 0 nay, 1 pass). The transcript does not identify a formal mover for the substitute on the record.

HB 48-93 would add a nationally aligned alternative pathway to Michigan CPA licensure and clarify continuing professional education (CPE) requirements. Bob Doyle, president and CEO of the Michigan Association of CPAs, and Michelle Randall, a CPA and accounting educator, told the committee the change is intended to expand the pipeline of qualified accountants without lowering exam or experience standards. Randall said the additional pathway mirrors updates to the Uniform Accountancy Act (UAA) and would permit a candidate with a bachelor’s degree, two years of verified qualifying experience and passing grades on the CPA exam to be licensed without the traditional 150‑hour education mandate that many states have required.

The committee adopted an H‑2 substitute for HB 48-93 (roll call recorded: 14 aye, 0 nay). Testimony described the licensure changes as a new pathway, not a repeal of the 150‑hour option; candidates who still complete 150 hours would retain that route.

HB 48-93 would also change CPE rules. Under testimony, Michigan’s current requirement — described in testimony as 8 hours of auditing and accounting (A&A), two hours of ethics and 30 hours in any category — would be replaced by a framework requiring two hours of ethics and 38 hours in any category. The bill would also clarify carryover language to make explicit that licensees may carry up to 40 hours into the next year of the two‑year licensing cycle and that carryover hours must be applied before new hours.

Committee members asked whether internships count toward the required experience: witnesses said internships supervised by a CPA can be counted toward the qualifying experience. Members raised concerns about how universities and graduate programs might respond; witnesses said the pathway is additive and that masters programs will still be an option for students pursuing advanced roles.

A single public card from LARA was read into the record in support. After adopting the substitutes and hearing testimony, the committee recessed and then adjourned.

Actions recorded in the transcript: the H‑1 substitute for HB 48‑92 was adopted (13‑0, 1 pass) and the H‑2 substitute for HB 48‑93 was adopted (14‑0).