Backers say the bills would level the playing field because brick-and-mortar businesses must assess the tax on customers.

The legislation was sent to the Republican-led House for its consideration in the waning days of the legislative session. It won approval on a 21-16 vote in the GOP-controlled Senate, picking up support from 11 Democrats and 10 Republicans.

Walmart and other stores in Michigan must collect the sales tax when selling goods over the Internet.

Shoppers currently are required to pay unpaid "use" taxes on online, catalog, mail- and telephone-order purchases when they file their state tax returns. But few taxpayers comply, paying less than $6 million this year.
The state Treasury Department estimates that $482 million in revenue from remote sales went uncollected in the last fiscal year. The bills could raise in the ballpark of $50 million a year from Amazon, Overstock, eBay and other Internet retailers with a "nexus" to the state.