HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POLICY
REP. CURTIS VANDERWALL
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
9:00 AM
Room 519, House Office
Building
The House Committee on Health Policy was called to order by Chair VanderWall.
The Chair requested attendance to be called:
Present: Reps. VanderWall, Thompson, Meerman, Tisdel, Bierlein, DeBoer, Prestin,
Schmaltz, St. Germaine, Bohnak, Frisbie, Brenda Carter, Witwer, Neeley, Hoskins and
Foreman.
Absent: Rep. Whitsett.
Excused: Rep. Whitsett.
Representative DeBoer moved to adopt the meeting minutes from March 18, 2026. There being no
objection, the motion prevailed with unanimous consent.
The Chair laid SB 449, SB 450 and SB 451 before the committee:
SB 449
(Sen. Anthony)
A bill to require hospitals to develop and
implement financial assistance programs for
certain patients; to provide for the powers and
duties of certain state and local governmental
officers and entities; to allow for the
promulgation of rules; and to prescribe civil
sanctions and remedies.
SB 450
(Sen. Lindsey)
A bill to amend 1913 PA 350, entitled "An act
to enable counties to establish and maintain
public hospitals, levy a tax and issue bonds
therefor, borrow money and issue bonds and
notes therefor, elect hospital trustees, maintain
training schools for nurses, maintain nursing
home facilities, provide suitable means for the
care of tuberculous persons, and to make
possible the ultimate establishment of an
adequate supply of hospitals," by amending
section 17 (MCL 331.167).
SB 451
(Sen. Anthony)
A bill to prohibit consumer reporting agencies
from including certain information related to
medical debt in consumer reports; to establish
standards for the collection of medical debt; to
regulate certain reporting of medical debt; and
to provide remedies.
Senator Anthony, joined by Senator Lindsey, testified in support of SB 449, SB 450, and SB 451.
Questions and discussion followed.
Ken Martin, representing the Hemophilia Foundation of Michigan, testified in support of SB 449,
SB 450 and SB 451. Questions and discussions followed.
Zachary W. Taylor, representing the Consumer Data Industry Association, testified in opposition
to SB 451. Questions and discussions followed.
Anna Meyer, representing the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, testified in support of SB 449,
SB 450 and SB 451. Questions and discussions followed.
The Chair laid HB 5074, HB 5251 and HB 5252 before the committee:
HB 5074
(Rep. Thompson)
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled "Public
health code," by amending sections 16903,
18111, 18223, 18233, and 18509 (MCL
333.16903, 333.18111, 333.18223,
333.18233, and 333.18509), section 16903 as
amended by 2006 PA 388, section 18111 as
amended by 2019 PA 96, section 18223 as
amended by 2018 PA 24, section 18233 as
amended by 1994 PA 234, and section 18509
as amended by 2004 PA 61, and by adding
sections 18111a and 18227.
HB 5251
(Rep. VanderWall)
A bill to amend 1939 PA 280, entitled "The
social welfare act," (MCL 400.1 to 400.119b)
by adding section 109u.
HB 5252
(Rep. Rogers)
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled "Public
health code," by amending sections 20106,
20109, 20115, and 20161 (MCL 333.20106,
333.20109, 333.20115, and 333.20161),
sections 20106 and 20161 as amended by 2024
PA 252, section 20109 as amended by 2015
PA 156, and section 20115 as amended by
2023 PA 209, and by adding part 219A.
The following person submitted a card in support of HB 5074, but did not wish to speak:
Jarrett Skorup, representing the Michigan Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
Representative Prestin moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HB 5074. The motion prevailed 16-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. VanderWall, Thompson, Meerman, Tisdel, Bierlein, DeBoer, Prestin, Schmaltz,
St. Germaine, Bohnak, Frisbie, Brenda Carter, Witwer, Neeley, Hoskins and Foreman.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
Representative Thompson moved to report out HB 5074 with recommendation that the substitute
(H-1) be adopted. The committee further recommended that the bill and substitute (H-1) be
referred to the Committee on Rules. The motion prevailed 16-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. VanderWall, Thompson, Meerman, Tisdel, Bierlein, DeBoer, Prestin, Schmaltz,
St. Germaine, Bohnak, Frisbie, Brenda Carter, Witwer, Neeley, Hoskins and Foreman.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
The following person submitted a card in support of HB 5251, but did not wish to speak:
Chardae Burton, representing the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Representative Bohnak moved to report out HB 5251 with recommendation. The motion prevailed
16-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. VanderWall, Thompson, Meerman, Tisdel, Bierlein, DeBoer, Prestin, Schmaltz,
St. Germaine, Bohnak, Frisbie, Brenda Carter, Witwer, Neeley, Hoskins and Foreman.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
Representative Bierlein moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HB 5252. The motion prevailed
16-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. VanderWall, Thompson, Meerman, Tisdel, Bierlein, DeBoer, Prestin, Schmaltz,
St. Germaine, Bohnak, Frisbie, Brenda Carter, Witwer, Neeley, Hoskins and Foreman.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
Representative Frisbie moved to report out HB 5252 with recommendation that the substitute
(H-1) be adopted. The committee further recommended that the bill and substitute (H-1) be
referred to the Committee on Rules. The motion prevailed 16-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. VanderWall, Thompson, Meerman, Tisdel, Bierlein, DeBoer, Prestin, Schmaltz,
St. Germaine, Bohnak, Frisbie, Brenda Carter, Witwer, Neeley, Hoskins and Foreman.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
The Chair laid HB 5254 and HB 5255 before the committee:
HB 5254
(Rep. Rigas)
A bill to amend 1976 PA 331, entitled
"Michigan consumer protection act," by
amending section 3 (MCL 445.903), as
amended by 2022 PA 152.
HB 5255
(Rep. Pohutsky)
A bill to limit interest and charges on medical
debt; to limit actions taken to collect medical
debt; to limit the sale of medical debt; to
require information to be provided regarding
medical debt; and to provide remedies.
Representative Pohutsky, joined by Representative Rigas, testified in support of HB 5254 and HB
5255. Questions and discussion followed.
The following people submitted a card in support of SB 449, SB 450 and SB 451, but did not wish
to speak:
Jessica AcMoody, representing CEDAM.
Kezia Ofosu Atta, representing the American Lung Association of Michigan.
Caroline Roberson, representing the ALS Association.
Jason Lachowski, representing the American Association of Retired Persons Michigan.
Libby Benton, representing the Michigan Poverty Law Program.
The following person submitted a card with a neutral position on SB 449, SB 450 and SB 451, but
did not wish to speak:
Adam Carlson, representing the Michigan Hospital Association.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 5254, HB 5255, SB 449, SB 450 and SB
451, but did not wish to speak:
Amber Bellazaire, representing the Michigan League for Public Policy.
Angelica Katz, representing Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Lauren Edwards, representing Blood Cancer United.
Kate Dorsey, representing the Michigan State Medical Society.
Molly Medenblik, representing the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
The following person submitted a card in support of HB 5254 and HB 5255, but did not wish to
speak:
Mary Kay Makarewicz, representing the Michigan Society of Hematology and Oncology.
The Committee returned to discussion on SB 449, SB 450, and SB 451.
Dr. Minal Patel, representing the University of Michigan School of Public Health, testified in
support of SB 449, SB 450, and SB 451.
Representative Foreman moved to excuse Representative 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
10:10 AM.
Representative Curtis VanderWall, Chair
Hazel Campbell-Crawley
Committee Clerk
hcrawley@house.mi.gov