Lansing — Medical marijuana business owners would not need to disclose an arrest, charge, indictment or expunged conviction on applications for state operating licenses under legislation the Michigan House approved Tuesday.

The bill by Republican Rep. Klint Kesto of Commerce Township also would exempt those with less than five percent ownership in a medical marijuana business from being listed in the application and abiding by the same financial disclosure requirements assigned to other owners.

“If they own less than five percent, they’re not really decision makers; they’re really just investors,” Kesto said, noting the legislation would lessen the board’s burden and encourage investment in the state.

The bill addresses concerns that have arisen as the state licensing board has slogged through dozens of medical marijuana license applications, at times slowed by questions about decades-old arrests or dropped charges.