HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON MILITARY, VETERANS AND HOMELAND SECURITY
REP. JENNIFER CONLIN
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
12:00 PM
Room 327, House Office Building
The House Committee on Military, Veterans and Homeland Security was called to order by
Chair Conlin.
The Chair requested attendance be called:
Present: Reps. Conlin, Tyrone Carter, Shannon, Rogers, Wegela, Xiong, Markkanen,
Bezotte, Martin, St. Germaine.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Representative Wegela moved to adopt the meeting minutes from May 21, 2024. There being
no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid HB 5276, HB 5277, HB 5279, HB 5280 and HB 5720 before the committee:
HB 5276
(Rep. Conlin)
A bill to create the office of mental health and
suicide prevention in the Michigan veterans affairs
agency and provide for its powers and duties; and
to provide for the powers and duties of certain
state governmental officers and entities.
HB 5277
(Rep. Morse)
A bill to amend 1967 PA 150, entitled "Michigan
military act," (MCL 32.501 to 32.851) by adding
section 322.
HB 5279
(Rep. Brabec)
A bill to amend 1967 PA 150, entitled "Michigan
military act," (MCL 32.501 to 32.851) by adding
section 323.
HB 5280
(Rep. Bruck)
A bill to amend 1967 PA 150, entitled "Michigan
military act," (MCL 32.501 to 32.851) by adding
section 321.
HB 5720
(Rep. Bezotte)
A bill to require the department of military and
veterans affairs to make certain mental health and
wellness resources available to members of the
Michigan National Guard and other military
servicemembers.
A substitute (H-1) for HB 5276 was adopted at the May 14th, 2024 meeting.
A substitute (H-1) for HB 5277 was adopted at the May 14th, 2024 meeting.
A substitute (H-1) for HB 5279 was adopted at the May 14th, 2024 meeting.
A substitute (H-1) for HB 5280 was adopted at the May 14th,2024 meeting.
Representative Tyrone Carter moved to adopt substitute (H-2) to HB 5277. The motion
prevailed 10-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Conlin, Tyrone Carter, Shannon, Rogers, Wegela, Xiong, Markkanen,
Bezotte, Martin, St. Germaine.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
Representative Shannon moved to report out HB 5276 with recommendation, as substitute
(H-1). The motion prevailed 9-0-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Conlin, Tyrone Carter, Shannon, Rogers, Wegela, Xiong, Markkanen,
Bezotte, Martin.
Nays: None.
Pass: Rep. St. Germaine.
Representative Xiong moved to report out HB 5277 with recommendation, as substitute (H-
2). The motion prevailed 9-0-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Conlin, Tyrone Carter, Shannon, Rogers, Wegela, Xiong, Markkanen,
Bezotte, Martin.
Nays: None.
Pass: Rep. St. Germaine.
Representative Rogers moved to report out HB 5279 with recommendation, as substitute (H-
1). The motion prevailed 10-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Conlin, Tyrone Carter, Shannon, Rogers, Wegela, Xiong, Markkanen,
Bezotte, Martin, St. Germaine.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
Representative Wegela moved to report out HB 5280 with recommendation, as substitute (H-
1). The motion prevailed 9-0-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Conlin, Tyrone Carter, Shannon, Rogers, Wegela, Xiong, Markkanen,
Bezotte, Martin.
Nays: None.
Pass: Rep. St. Germaine.
Representative Xiong moved to report out HB 5720 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 10-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Conlin, Tyrone Carter, Shannon, Rogers, Wegela, Xiong, Markkanen,
Bezotte, Martin, St. Germaine.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
The Chair laid HB 5703 before the committee:
HB 5703
(Rep. Jaime Greene)
A bill to create a Michigan Army National Guard
and Air National Guard apprenticeship program;
and to provide for the powers and duties of certain
state governmental officers and entities.
Representative Greene and Rick Donovan, representing the Polish Legion of American
Veterans, testified in support of HB 5703. Questions and discussion followed.
Terry Sabo, representing the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, testified
with no position on HB 5703.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 5276, HB 5277, HB 5279, HB 5280,
HB 5720 and HB 5703, but did not wish to speak:
Tim Poxson, representing the American Legion Department of Michigan.
The following person submitted a card in support of HB 5276, HB 5277, HB 5279 and HB
5280, but did not wish to speak:
Vietnam Veterans of America Michigan State Council.
Rick Donovan, representing The Polish Legion of American Veterans.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair Conlin adjourned the meeting at
12:34 PM.
Representative Jennifer Conlin, Chair
Nicholas Gewirtz
Committee Clerk
ngewirtz@house.mi.gov