Veterans (Veteran Housing) in Michigan

in committee · Michigan · House Nov 13, 2025

HB 5267: Veterans: veterans' homes; Michigan veterans' facility ombudsman; require to notify certain entities and individuals after deciding to investigate a report of abuse, neglect, or exploitation in a veterans' facility. Amends secs. 1, 7, 12 & 13 of 2016 PA 198 (MCL 4.771 et seq.). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5263'25, HB 5268'25, HB 5269'25

HB 5267 requires Michigan's veterans' facility ombudsman to notify specific parties within 10 business days when deciding to investigate complaints or reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation in state veterans' homes. It directly affects resident veterans, their families, legal representatives, and the facilities themselves, as well as the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. The bill mandates written notification to complainants, affected veterans, and relevant departments upon initiating or declining an investigation, ensuring transparency in the process. This amendment to existing law (2016 PA 198) focuses on improving communication and accountability in handling facility abuse reports.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

in committee · Michigan · House Nov 13, 2025

HB 5263: Veterans: ombudsman; forwarding reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation in a veterans’ facility to the Michigan veterans’ facility ombudsman; require for the department of military and veterans affairs and employees of a veterans’ facility, and authorize the Michigan veterans’ facility ombudsman to independently investigate reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation in a veterans’ facility. Amends sec. 4 of 2016 PA 198 (MCL 4.774). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5267'25, HB 5268'25, HB 5269'25

HB 5263 requires Michigan veterans' facilities and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to forward written reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation to the Michigan Veterans’ Facility Ombudsman. This directly affects veterans' facilities, their employees, and the ombudsman, who gains authority to independently investigate such reports without needing facility approval. The bill mandates that facilities immediately send reports to the ombudsman, who can then interview staff, contractors, or witnesses to probe issues affecting resident veterans’ safety. These changes aim to ensure prompt, impartial reviews of facility conditions that pose health or safety risks to veterans.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

in committee · Michigan · House Nov 13, 2025

HB 5264: Veterans: other; Michigan military and veteran services support fund; provide for. Creates new act.

HB 5264 creates a new Michigan Military and Veteran Services Support Fund within the state treasury to provide tax-deductible donations for military members, veterans, and their families. The bill establishes a 7-member board (including agency directors and appointed experts in fundraising) to manage the fund, which will maintain separate accounts for military service members/families and veterans/community support. Contributions stay in the fund year-to-year, and the board can allocate funds for direct grants or supplemental support to state veteran programs. This bill directly affects military personnel, veterans, and their families by creating a dedicated funding mechanism for their services.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

in committee · Michigan · House Nov 13, 2025

HB 5271: Military affairs: other; Michigan azimuth bridge program for transitioning military service members' mental health; establish. Amends 1967 PA 150 (MCL 32.501 - 32.851) by adding sec. 321. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5270'25

HB 5271 establishes the Michigan Azimuth Bridge Program, requiring the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to create a mental health transition program for service members and veterans. The program must be offered at least four times yearly, available within two months before and after military separation, and include resources on PTSD, depression, suicide prevention, and bridging military-to-civilian life. It mandates collaboration with nonprofits or government agencies, incorporates the Protecting Veterans Mental Health Act’s resource guide, and prohibits sharing personally identifying data. The bill directly affects Michigan National Guard members and veterans transitioning to civilian life who reside in the state.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics National Guard & Reserve Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

in committee · Michigan · House Nov 13, 2025

HB 5273: Veterans: trust fund; veterans trust fund act; modify, and remove period of war service requirement. Amends sec. 2 of 1946 (1st Ex Sess) PA 9 (MCL 35.602) & repeals sec. 4a of 1946 (1st Ex Sess) PA 9 (MCL 35.604a). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5260'25

HB 5273 modifies Michigan's Veterans Trust Fund eligibility by removing the requirement that veterans must have served during a specific "period of war" (e.g., Vietnam era) to qualify for assistance. The bill amends Section 2 of the 1946 Veterans Trust Fund Act (MCL 35.602) and repeals the related Section 4a (MCL 35.604a), which previously defined these war periods. This change directly affects veterans who served honorably for at least 180 days but did not meet the prior war-period requirement - such as those with peacetime service or service in non-designated conflicts. The bill streamlines eligibility to include all qualifying veterans regardless of when their service occurred, while retaining other criteria like honorable discharge and Michigan residency.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

in committee · Michigan · House Nov 13, 2025

HB 5269: Veterans: veterans' homes; forwarding reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a veteran to the county department of veterans affairs; require for certain state and local governmental officers and entities. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5267'25, HB 5263'25, HB 5268'25

HB 5269, the "Veteran Abuse Reporting Act," requires state departments, law enforcement, and prosecutors to notify county veterans' affairs offices or county boards of commissioners within 24 hours of receiving reports of suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving veterans. The notice must include the veteran's name, a description of the incident, and additional details like age or guardian information when available. This bill directly affects veterans who may be victims of abuse by ensuring their reports trigger a coordinated response from county veterans' affairs services. It mandates that counties contact the veteran or their legal representative and refer them to state veterans' services, creating a formal reporting pathway for veteran safety.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

in committee · Michigan · House Nov 13, 2025

HB 5270: Military affairs: other; office of mental health; establish within the Michigan department of military and veterans affairs. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5261'25, HB 5259'25, HB 5271'25

HB 5270 establishes the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention within Michigan's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to address veterans' mental health needs. The office will collect data on veteran mental health conditions (including PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, substance use disorders, and suicide risk), create a free resource guide with self-assessment tools and local mental health service listings, and submit annual reports to state committees. This guide must be available at no cost to veterans and service members in print or digital formats, with all personally identifying information protected. The bill requires the office to ensure data accuracy and coordinate with existing programs like the "buddy-to-buddy" peer support initiative.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Mental Health Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

in committee · Michigan · House Nov 13, 2025

HB 5268: Veterans: ombudsman; Michigan veterans' facility ombudsman to forward report of an investigation finding abuse, neglect, or exploitation in a veterans’ facility to the department of licensing and regulatory affairs; require. Amends sec. 10 of 2016 PA 198 (MCL 4.780). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5267'25, HB 5263'25, HB 5269'25, HR 0002'25

HB 5268 amends Michigan law to require the state veterans' facility ombudsman to directly forward reports finding verified abuse, neglect, or exploitation in veterans' facilities to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). This change affects veterans' facilities and their residents, as it ensures LARA - responsible for facility licensing and oversight - receives these reports immediately. The bill modifies Section 10 of the existing ombudsman law to mandate this specific reporting pathway when abuse findings are deemed valid, rather than only sharing internally with the department of military and veterans affairs. This creates a clearer accountability step for serious facility safety concerns.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

in committee · Michigan · House Nov 13, 2025

HB 5272: Individual income tax: property tax credit; credit for disabled veteran or widow or widower of disabled veteran who rents or leases a homestead; provide for and exclude from cap. Amends secs. 522 & 530 of 1967 PA 281 (MCL 206. 522 & 206.530). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5275'25

HB 5272 proposes to create a new property tax credit for disabled veterans and surviving spouses (widows/widowers) of disabled veterans who rent or lease a home in Michigan. It amends Michigan’s income tax law to add this credit and specifically exclude it from the state’s income tax cap. This would directly benefit qualifying renters who are disabled veterans or surviving spouses, providing them with a tax reduction they currently cannot access under existing rules. The bill does not change other tax credits or the overall tax structure.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Property Tax Property Taxes Renters Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

in committee · Michigan · House Nov 13, 2025

HB 5266: Veterans: other; office of veteran homelessness; create, and provide resources for homeless veterans. Creates new act.

HB 5266 creates Michigan's Office of Veteran Homelessness within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to coordinate support for homeless veterans. The office will identify, align, and connect veterans to existing state, federal, and local resources and programs addressing homelessness, including mental health, substance use, and housing services. It establishes a $1 million Veteran Homelessness Fund for the office's operations and requires annual reports detailing the scope of veteran homelessness, resource gaps, and recommendations for improvement. The bill directly affects homeless veterans in Michigan by streamlining access to services and improving coordination across government programs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Homelessness Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

All veterans bills