HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON FAMILIES AND VETERANS
REP. KATHY SCHMALTZ
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Noon.
Room 307, House Office
Building
The House Committee on Families and Veterans was called to order by Chair Schmaltz.
The Chair requested attendance to be called:
Present: Reps. Schmaltz, Wozniak, Fox, Johnsen, Thompson, Pavlov, Woolford, Young,
Byrnes, Rheingans and Xiong.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Representative Xiong moved to adopt the meeting minutes from March 17, 2026. There being no
objection, the motion prevailed with unanimous consent.
At 12:09 PM, the Chair laid the committee at ease.
At 12:10 PM, Majority Vice Chair Wozniak called the committee back to order.
The Chair laid HB 5456 and HB 5457 before the committee:
HB 5456
(Rep. Schmaltz)
A bill to create a hyperbaric oxygen therapy
grant program and pilot program for providing
treatment to veterans with traumatic brain
injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder; to
provide for the powers and duties of certain
state governmental officers and entities; and to
require the promulgation of rules.
HB 5457
(Rep. Schmaltz)
A bill to create a hyperbaric oxygen therapy
fund; and to provide for the administration of
and distributions from the fund.
Representative Schmaltz and Legislative Director Vinicius Assuncao, representing the Office of
Representative Schmaltz, testified together in support of HB 5456 and 5457. Questions and
discussion followed.
At 12:23 PM, Majority Vice Chair Wozniak laid the committee at ease.
At 12:24 PM, the Chair called the committee back to order.
Kevin Hensley, a retired Air Force Veteran, gave a presentation and testified in support of HB
5456 and HB 5457.
Eric Colley, representing the VFW State of Michigan, testified in support of HB 5456 and HB
5457.
Dr. Robert Beckman, representing TreatNOW, testified in support of HB 5456 and HB 5457.
Shannon Kenitz, representing the International Hyperbaric Association, testified in support of HB
5456 and HB 5457. Questions and discussions followed.
William Tettlebach M.D., representing Restorix Health, testified with a neutral position on HB
5456.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 5456 and HB 5457, but did not wish to
speak:
Tim Poxson, representing the American Legion Department of Michigan.
Brian Fogg, representing the Disabled American Veterans.
Mark Sutton, representing the Marine Corps League Department of Michigan.
Andrew Huhn, representing the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
James Sigman, representing the Military Officers Association of America.
Charles A. Petch, representing the AMVETS Department of Michigan.
Dr. Cyrus Garmo, M.D., representing Revitalize Me Hyperbaric Oxygen and Wound Care
Center.
Alfred Darmofal, representing Hyperbaric Technologies, INC.
Mayur Patel, representing OxyHealth, LLC.
James Nevenschwander, M.D., representing the Bio Energy Medical Center & the Medical
Academy of Pediatrics & Special Needs.
Bruce Mckeeman, representing Summit to Sea, LLC.
Fredrick & Annette Ryder, representing Hyperbaric for Life, LLC.
Joseph Dituri, PhD, representing the International Board of Undersea Medicine.
The following person submitted a card wishing to speak with a neutral position on HB 5456, but
due to the time constraints were unable to speak:
Sen. Judson Hill, representing Restorix Health.
The Chair laid HB 5456, HB 5514 and HB 5715 before the committee:
HB 5456
(Rep. Schmaltz)
A bill to create a hyperbaric oxygen therapy
grant program and pilot program for providing
treatment to veterans with traumatic brain
injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder; to
provide for the powers and duties of certain
state governmental officers and entities; and to
require the promulgation of rules.
HB 5514
(Rep. Cavitt)
A bill to prohibit youth transportation
companies from using certain restraints while
transporting youths to certain qualified
residential treatment programs; to provide
exceptions; to provide civil sanctions; and to
provide for the powers and duties of certain
state and local governmental officers and
entities.
HB 5715
(Rep. Schmaltz)
A bill to amend 1978 PA 390, entitled "An act
to regulate the time and manner of payment of
wages and fringe benefits to employees; to
prescribe rights and responsibilities of
employers and employees, and the powers and
duties of the department of labor; to require
keeping of records; to provide for settlement of
disputes regarding wages and fringe benefits;
to prohibit certain practices by employers; to
prescribe penalties and remedies; and to repeal
certain acts and parts of acts," by amending
section 6 (MCL 408.476), as amended by 2012
PA 440.
Representative Johnsen moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HB 5456. The motion prevailed
11-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Schmaltz, Wozniak, Fox, Johnsen, Thompson, Pavlov, Woolford, Young,
Byrnes, Rheingans and Xiong.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
The Chair laid HB 5514 before the committee:
HB 5514
(Rep. Cavitt)
A bill to prohibit youth transportation
companies from using certain restraints while
transporting youths to certain qualified
residential treatment programs; to provide
exceptions; to provide civil sanctions; and to
provide for the powers and duties of certain
state and local governmental officers and
entities.
A substitute (H-1) for HB 5514 was adopted at the March 17, 2026, meeting.
Representative Fox moved to report out HB 5514 with recommendation, as substitute (H-1). The
motion prevailed 11-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Schmaltz, Wozniak, Fox, Johnsen, Thompson, Pavlov, Woolford, Young,
Byrnes, Rheingans and Xiong.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
Representative Wozniak moved to report out HB 5715 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 11-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Schmaltz, Wozniak, Fox, Johnsen, Thompson, Pavlov, Woolford, Young,
Byrnes, Rheingans and Xiong.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair Schmaltz adjourned the meeting at
1:22 PM.
Representative Kathy Schmaltz, Chair
Brittany Middaugh
Committee Clerk
bmiddaugh@house.mi.gov