HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POLICY
REP. CURTIS VANDERWALL
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
9:00 AM
Room 519, House Office
Building
The House Committee on Health Policy was called to order by Chair VanderWall.
The Clerk read a letter dated April 21st, 2026, from House Speaker Matt Hall which removed
Representative Karen Whitsett as Minority Vice Chair of the House Committee on Health Policy
and added Representative Angela Witwer as Minority Vice Chair of the House Committee on
Health Policy.
The Chair requested attendance to be called:
Present: Reps. VanderWall, Thompson, Meerman, Bierlein, DeBoer, Prestin, Schmaltz, St.
Germaine, Bohnak, Frisbie, Witwer, Neeley, Hoskins and Foreman.
Absent: Reps. Tisdel, Brenda Carter and Whitsett.
Excused: Reps. Tisdel, Brenda Carter and Whitsett.
Representative St. Germaine moved to adopt the meeting minutes from April 15, 2026. There
being no objection, the motion prevailed with unanimous consent.
The Chair laid SB 590 and SB 591 before the committee:
SB 590
(Sen. Outman)
A bill to amend 1963 PA 17, entitled "An act
to relieve certain persons from civil liability
when rendering emergency care, when
rendering care to persons involved in
competitive sports under certain
circumstances, or when participating in a mass
immunization program approved by the
department of public health," (MCL 691.1501
to 691.1507) by adding section 8.
SB 591
(Sen. Chang)
A bill to amend 2006 PA 23, entitled "An act
to regulate certain health clubs with respect to
potential medical emergencies; and to provide
for civil sanctions," by amending section 3
(MCL 333.26313).
Senator Outman testified in support of SB 590 and SB 591.
Laura Walker, representing the Michigan Trauma Coalition, testified in support of SB 590 and SB
591.
The following people submitted a card in support of SB 590 and SB 591, but did not wish to speak:
Alex Seasock, representing Memorial Healthcare.
Matt Saxton, representing the Michigan Sheriff's Association.
Taylor Alpert, representing the Michigan Health and Hospital Association.
The Chair laid HB 5303 before the committee:
HB 5303
(Rep. Farhat)
A bill to amend 1939 PA 280, entitled "The
social welfare act," by amending section 105i
(MCL 400.105i), as added by 2023 PA 279.
Megan Yaskanin, representing the Office of Representative Farhat, testified in support of HB
5303.
Christine Shearer and Carrie Germain, representing the Michigan Association of Health Plans,
testified in support of HB 5303. Questions and discussions followed.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 5303, but did not wish to speak:
Miguel Rodriguez, representing American Pharmacies.
Kate Skaggs, representing Meridian Health Plan.
Dan Frey, representing Molina Health.
Karla Ruest, representing the Professional Convention Management Association.
Rory Lafferty, representing the Health Alliance Plan of Michigan.
The Chair laid HB 5302 and SB 413 before the committee:
HB 5302
(Rep. DeBoyer)
A bill to amend 1974 PA 258, entitled "Mental
health code," by amending section 273b (MCL
330.1273b), as added by 2020 PA 402.
SB 413
(Sen. Wojno)
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled "Public
health code," by amending sections 18221,
18223, 18233, and 18237 (MCL 333.18221,
333.18223, 333.18233, and 333.18237),
section 18221 as amended by 2006 PA 395,
section 18223 as amended by 2018 PA 24,
section 18233 as amended by 1994 PA 234,
and section 18237 as amended by 1998 PA
496.
The following person submitted a card in support of HB 5302, but did not wish to speak:
Dan Frey, representing Molina Health.
Representative St. Germaine moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HB 5302. The motion prevailed
14-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. VanderWall, Thompson, Meerman, Bierlein, DeBoer, Prestin, Schmaltz, St.
Germaine, Bohnak, Frisbie, Witwer, Neeley, Hoskins and Foreman.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
Representative Frisbie moved to report out HB 5302 with recommendation, as substitute (H-1).
The motion prevailed 14-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. VanderWall, Thompson, Meerman, Bierlein, DeBoer, Prestin, Schmaltz, St.
Germaine, Bohnak, Frisbie, Witwer, Neeley, Hoskins and Foreman.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
The following people submitted a card in support of SB 413, but did not wish to speak:
Megan Blue, representing Mosaic Counseling.
Jess Riley, representing the National Association of Social Workers- Michigan Chapter.
Representative Schmaltz moved to report out SB 413 with recommendation that the bill be
referred to the Committee on Rules. The motion prevailed 14-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. VanderWall, Thompson, Meerman, Bierlein, DeBoer, Prestin, Schmaltz, St.
Germaine, Bohnak, Frisbie, Witwer, Neeley, Hoskins and Foreman.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
Representative Meerman moved to excuse Representatives Tisdel, Brenda Carter and Whitsett
from the meeting. There being no objection the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair VanderWall adjourned the meeting at
9:51 AM.
Representative Curtis VanderWall, Chair
Hazel Campbell-Crawley
Committee Clerk
hcrawley@house.mi.gov