HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON FAMILIES AND VETERANS
REP. KATHY SCHMALTZ
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, June 16, 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, Pavlov, Woolford, Young, Byrnes,
Rheingans and Xiong.
Absent: Rep. Thompson.
Excused: Rep. Thompson.
Representative Fox moved to adopt the meeting minutes from June 09, 2026. There being no
objection, the motion prevailed with unanimous consent.
The Chair laid HB 5163 before the committee:
HB 5163
(Rep. Wortz)
A bill to amend 1975 PA 238, entitled "Child
protection law," by amending section 2 (MCL
722.622), as amended by 2022 PA 67.
Representative Wortz testified in support of HB 5163.
Kimberly Towe, representing herself, testified in support of HB 5163. Questions and discussions
followed.
Karen Kirkpatrick, founder of My Advocate, testified in support of HB 5163.
Katherine Bussard, representing herself, testified in support of HB 5163. Questions and
discussions followed.
Representative Wozniak moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HB 5163. The motion prevailed 8-0-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Schmaltz, Wozniak, Fox, Johnsen, Pavlov, Woolford, Young and Rheingans.
Nays: None.
Pass: Rep. Xiong.
Eileen McNeil, representing herself, testified in support of HB 5163.
The following person submitted a card in support of HB 5163, but did not wish to speak:
Prof. William Wagner, representing himself.
The Chair laid a presentation on foster care from Interfaith Shelter before the committee.
Steve Castle, representing the Interfaith Shelter, Sabrina Beitelschies, and Shantheis Moody,
representing the Mel Trotter Ministries, spoke to the committee on their experiences with
Michigan’s foster care system. Questions and discussion followed.
The Chair laid HB 4905 before the committee:
HB 4905
(Rep. Schmaltz)
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled "Public
health code," by amending section 16909
(MCL 333.16909), as amended by 1997 PA
188.
Representative Woolford moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HB 4905. The motion prevailed
8-0-2:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Schmaltz, Wozniak, Fox, Johnsen, Pavlov, Woolford, Young and Rheingans.
Nays: None.
Pass: Reps. Byrnes and Xiong.
Representative Johnsen moved to report out HB 4905 with recommendation, as substitute (H-1).
The motion prevailed 7-0-3:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Schmaltz, Wozniak, Fox, Johnsen, Pavlov, Woolford and Rheingans.
Nays: None.
Pass: Reps. Young, Byrnes and Xiong.
The Chair laid HB 5724 before the committee:
HB 5724
(Rep. Meerman)
A bill to amend 1939 PA 288, entitled "Probate
code of 1939," (MCL 710.21 to 712B.41) by
adding section 18u to chapter XIIA.
Representative Pavlov moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HB 5724. The motion prevailed 7-0-3:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Schmaltz, Wozniak, Fox, Johnsen, Pavlov, Woolford and Rheingans.
Nays: None.
Pass: Reps. Young, Byrnes and Xiong.
Representative Woolford moved to report out HB 5724 with recommendation, as substitute (H-1).
The motion prevailed 6-0-4:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Schmaltz, Wozniak, Fox, Johnsen, Pavlov and Woolford.
Nays: None.
Pass: Reps. Young, Byrnes, Rheingans and Xiong.
Representative Xiong moved to excuse Representative Thompson 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
1:10 PM.
Representative Kathy Schmaltz, Chair
Brittany Middaugh
Committee Clerk
bmiddaugh@house.mi.gov