HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POLICY
REP. CURTIS VANDERWALL
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, April 29, 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, Witwer, Brenda Carter, Neeley, Hoskins and
Foreman.
Absent: Rep. Whitsett.
Excused: Rep. Whitsett.
Representative Frisbie moved to adopt the meeting minutes from April 22, 2026. There being no
objection, the motion prevailed with unanimous consent.
The Chair laid HB 5709 before the committee:
HB 5709
(Rep. Roth)
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled "Public
health code," (MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211)
by adding section 22224d.
Representative Roth testified in support of HB 5709.
Dr. Gregory Messenger, joined by Dr. Andrew Messenger, and Don Romain, representing Care
for the Well, testified in support of HB 5709. Questions and discussions followed.
Dr. Randy Hicks, representing the Michigan Radiological Society, testified in opposition to HB
5709. Questions and discussion followed.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 5709, but did not wish to speak:
Robert Kennedy, representing Ear, Nose, & Throat Consultants.
Michael Van Beele, representing the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
Tim Gaughan, representing the Michigan Chiropractors Association.
Dr. Jeffery Weingarten, representing the Michigan Otolaryngologic Society.
The following people submitted a card in opposition to HB 5709, but did not wish to speak:
Ashley Christian, representing Henry Ford Health.
Elizabeth Kutter, representing the Michigan Health and Hospital Association.
Kris Kraft, representing Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
The Chair laid SB 205 before the committee:
SB 205
(Sen. Daley)
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled "Public
health code," (MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211)
by adding section 10401.
Senator Daley testified in support of SB 205.
Patrick Wells-O'Brien, representing Gift of Life Michigan, testified in support of SB 205.
Questions and discussion followed.
The following person submitted a card in support of SB 205, but did not wish to speak:
Chardae Burton, representing the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
The Chair laid a presentation on Partnerships to Improve Michiganders’ Nutrition and Health
before the committee.
Kate Bauer, representing the University of Michigan Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health
Policy, gave a presentation on Partnerships to Improve Michiganders' Nutrition and Health.
Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Schmaltz 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
10:11 AM.
Representative Curtis VanderWall, Chair
Hazel Campbell-Crawley
Committee Clerk
hcrawley@house.mi.gov