HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON MILITARY, VETERANS AND HOMELAND SECURITY
REP. JENNIFER CONLIN
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, May 14, 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 Clerk read a letter from Speaker Joe Tate removing Representative Jason Morgan from
the Committee.
The Clerk read a letter from Speaker Joe Tate adding Representative Mai Xiong to the
Committee.
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 Tyrone Carter moved to adopt the meeting minutes from March 19, 2024.
There being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid SB 690 before the committee:
SB 690
(Sen. Klinefelt)
A bill to amend 1980 PA 523, entitled "Michigan
code of military justice of 1980," by amending
sections 2, 3, 6, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24,
26, 27, 29, 32, 34, 36, 43, 48, 52, 54, 58, 61, 65,
66, 67, 121, and 147 (MCL 32.1002, 32.1003,
32.1006, 32.1010, 32.1015, 32.1016, 32.1017,
32.1018, 32.1019, 32.1020, 32.1023, 32.1024,
32.1026, 32.1027, 32.1029, 32.1032, 32.1034,
32.1036, 32.1043, 32.1048, 32.1052, 32.1054,
32.1058, 32.1061, 32.1065, 32.1066, 32.1067,
32.1121, and 32.1147), sections 2, 3, 15, 16, 26,
27, and 29 as amended and section 121 as added
by 2005 PA 186, and by adding sections 6a, 30a,
38a, 58a, 58b, 93a, 106, 106a, 112a, 120, 121a,
121b, 122, 123, 128, 131a, 131b, 131c, 132a,
134a, 134b, 134c, and 134d; and to repeal acts and
parts of acts.
Representative Shannon moved to report out SB 690 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 6-0-4:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Conlin, Tyrone Carter, Shannon, Rogers, Wegela, Xiong.
Nays: None.
Pass: Reps. Markkanen, Bezotte, Martin, St. Germaine.
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.
Representative Rogers moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HB 5276. The motion prevailed 6-
1-3:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Conlin, Tyrone Carter, Shannon, Rogers, Wegela, Xiong.
Nays: Rep. Markkanen.
Pass: Reps. Bezotte, Martin, St. Germaine.
Representative Wegela moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HB 5277. The motion prevailed 6-
0-4:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Conlin, Tyrone Carter, Shannon, Rogers, Wegela, Xiong.
Nays: None.
Pass: Reps. Markkanen, Bezotte, Martin, St. Germaine.
Representative Xiong moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HB 5279. The motion prevailed 6-
0-4:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Conlin, Tyrone Carter, Shannon, Rogers, Wegela, Xiong.
Nays: None.
Pass: Reps. Markkanen, Bezotte, Martin, St. Germaine.
Representative Tyrone Carter moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HB 5280. 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.
At 12:10 PM, the Chair laid the committee at ease.
At 12:11 AM, Majority Vice Chair Tyrone Carter called the committee back to order.
Representative Conlin testified in support of HBs 5276, 5277, 5279, 5280, and 5720.
Questions and discussion followed.
At 12:17 PM, Majority Vice Chair Tyrone Carter laid the committee at ease.
At 12:18 PM, the Chair called the committee back to order.
Representative Morse testified in support of HB 5277. Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Brabec testified in support of HB 5279. Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Bruck testified in support of HB 5280. Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Bezotte testified in support of HB 5720.
Joshua Parish, representing Vetlife, testified against HBs 5276, 5277, 5279, 5280, and 5720.
Questions and discussion followed.
Dean Ditto testified in support of HBs 5276, 5277, 5279, 5280, and 5720. Questions and
discussion followed.
Lieutenant General Martin Steele testified in support of HBs 5276, 5277, 5279, 5280, and
5720. Questions and discussion followed.
The following person submitted a card with a neutral position on SB 690, HB 5276, HB
5277, HB 5279, HB 5280 and HB 5720, but due to the time constraints were unable to speak:
Tim Poxson, representing the American Legion Department of Michigan.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair Conlin adjourned the meeting at
1:06 PM.
Representative Jennifer Conlin, Chair
Nicholas Gewirtz
Committee Clerk
ngewirtz@house.mi.gov