HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON FAMILIES AND VETERANS
REP. KATHY SCHMALTZ
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, May 12, 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 and Xiong.
Absent: Rep. Rheingans.
Excused: Rep. Rheingans.
Representative Wozniak moved to adopt the meeting minutes from April 28, 2026. There being no
objection, the motion prevailed with unanimous consent.
The chair laid presentations from Representative Steele and Michigan foster parents and advocates
from Southeast Michigan before the committee.
Misty Schaffer, representing herself, gave a presentation to the committee. Questions and
discussions followed.
Colleen Worthen, representing herself, gave a presentation to the committee.
Chloe Verbeke, representing herself, gave a presentation to the committee.
Cheryl Verbeke, representing herself, gave a presentation to the committee.
The Chair laid HB 5723 before the committee:
HB 5723
(Rep. Meerman)
A bill to amend 1973 PA 116, entitled "An act
to provide for the protection of children
through the licensing and regulation of child
care organizations; to provide for the
establishment of standards of care for child
care organizations; to prescribe powers and
duties of certain departments of this state and
adoption facilitators; to provide penalties; and
to repeal acts and parts of acts," (MCL 722.111
to 722.128) by adding section 16a.
Representative Meerman testified in support of HB 5723. Questions and discussions followed.
Dan Gowdy, representing the Association of Accredited Child and Family Agencies, testified in
support of HB 5723. Questions and discussions followed.
The following person submitted a card in support of HB 5723, but did not wish to speak:
Kevin Roach, representing MCHS Family of Services.
The following person submitted a card in opposition to HB 5723, but did not wish to speak:
Chardae' Burton, representing the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services.
Representative Johnsen moved to excuse Representative Rheingans from the meeting. There being
no objection the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair Schmaltz adjourned the meeting at
1:01 PM.
Representative Kathy Schmaltz, Chair
Brittany Middaugh
Committee Clerk
bmiddaugh@house.mi.gov