Veterans (Veteran Healthcare)

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 ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransRemoves restrictive service period requirement, expanding trust fund eligibility to veterans who served honorably without war-era designation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

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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 ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransMandates 24-hour reporting of veteran abuse to county veterans' affairs offices, directly protecting vulnerable veterans from harm.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

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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 ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates dedicated mental health office for veterans, establishes resource guides/data collection to improve access to mental health services and suicide prevention95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEstablishes dedicated office within veterans affairs to address mental health needs, create resource guide, and collect data on PTSD/suicide risk - directly advancing healthcare services.95% confidence

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

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in committee · Michigan · House Nov 13, 2025

HB 5275: Individual income tax: property tax credit; definition of disabled veteran and exclusion from credit cap; provide for. Amends secs. 506 & 520 of 1967 PA 281 (MCL 206.506 & 206.520). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5272'25

HB 5275 modifies Michigan's property tax credit for individual income tax by changing the definition of "disabled veteran" and removing a limit on the credit amount for qualifying veterans. The bill amends sections 506 and 520 of the 1967 Income Tax Act (MCL 206.506, 206.520) to expand eligibility and eliminate a cap previously applied to this credit. This directly affects disabled veterans who claim the property tax credit, allowing them to receive the full credit amount without the prior limitation. The change is a specific policy adjustment to the tax code, not a new benefit.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRemoves cap on property tax credit for disabled veterans, increasing tax relief for qualifying veterans, directly advancing tax relief within Budget & Taxes framework.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill removes credit cap for disabled veterans, expanding property tax benefits. Directly advances financial support for veterans by eliminating prior limitations on their tax credit.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · Michigan · House Nov 13, 2025

HB 5257: Use tax: exemptions; exemption for purchase of vehicle by disabled veteran; provide for. Amends sec. 21 of 1937 PA 94 (MCL 205.111) & adds sec. 4hh. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5274'25

HB 5257 exempts qualified disabled veterans from Michigan's use tax when purchasing a vehicle for personal use. This applies to veterans meeting the definition in Michigan's General Property Tax Act (MCL 211.7b), which requires a service-connected disability rating. The exemption begins January 1, 2026, and covers the full purchase price of the vehicle. The bill amends the Use Tax Act to add this specific exemption while maintaining other tax collection provisions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts disabled veterans from use tax, providing targeted tax relief for vulnerable groups per tax relief indicators in Budget & Taxes policy.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExempts disabled veterans from use tax on vehicle purchases, directly expanding benefits for veterans with service-connected disabilities per MCL 211.7b.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Veteran Healthcare

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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 ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransMandates direct reporting of abuse/neglect in veterans' facilities to LARA for immediate oversight, enhancing resident protection and accountability in veteran care facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

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in committee · Michigan · House Nov 13, 2025

HB 5265: Veterans: other; grant program for veterans working to obtain a service animal; establish. Creates new act.

HB 5265 creates Michigan's Veterans Service Animal Grant Program, providing financial assistance to eligible veterans for obtaining service animals. It directly affects veterans diagnosed with service-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who are matched with service animals through IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. The program, administered by the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, uses a new state fund to cover costs like training and acquisition, with grants awarded based on specific eligibility criteria. The fund is established in the state treasury and can only be used for program grants and administration, as outlined in the bill.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new state fund for veterans service animal grants, directly allocating state budget resources to support program funding.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates Michigan's Veterans Service Animal Grant Program with state funding for PTSD veterans' service animals, directly advancing benefits through financial assistance for acquisition and training.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · Michigan · House Nov 13, 2025

HB 5276: Veterans: other; Vietnam veteran era bonus act; extend. Amends secs. 2 & 11 of 1974 PA 370 (MCL 35.1022 & 35.1031) & adds sec. 6a.

HB 5276 extends eligibility for Michigan's Vietnam veteran era bonus to veterans who received the National Defense Service Medal between September 1, 1973, and May 7, 1975. It adds Section 6a to the existing law, creating a new eligibility path for veterans meeting the service period requirements and medal award criteria. The bill also extends the application deadline for these veterans to May 7, 2028, instead of the original 1980 cutoff. This change directly affects Michigan veterans who served during the Vietnam era and were awarded the specified medal during the extended timeframe.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExtends eligibility for Vietnam veteran bonus benefits and application deadline, directly expanding access to veterans' benefits per bill's summary and subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

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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 & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit for disabled veterans/renters, providing direct tax relief excluded from cap, aligning with support indicators for lower-income tax relief.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides tax credit for disabled veteran renters, reducing housing costs and increasing affordability for vulnerable renters.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates tax credit for disabled veterans & surviving spouses, expanding financial benefits for renters who previously couldn't access property tax credits.95% confidence

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

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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 ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCoordinates access to mental health and substance use services for homeless veterans, aligning existing resources to support healthcare needs.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates $1M fund and office to address veteran homelessness through housing services, directly advancing housing support for vulnerable population.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates Office of Veteran Homelessness with $1M fund to coordinate housing/health services for homeless veterans, directly advancing support through dedicated funding and coordination.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

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