2025 House Bill 5263

Veterans: ombudsman; forwarding reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation in a veterans' facility to the Michigan veterans' facility ombudsman; require for the department of military and veterans affairs and employees of a veterans' facility, and authorize the Michigan veterans' facility ombudsman to independently investigate reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation in a veterans' facility.

A bill to amend 2016 PA 198, entitled “An act to create the office of the Michigan veterans’ facility ombudsman; and to prescribe the powers and duties of the office, the ombudsman, the legislative council, and the department of military and veterans affairs,” by amending section 4 (MCL 4.774).

Official record

AI Analysis – Experimental

House Bills 5263, 5267, 5268, and 5269 collectively strengthen protections for veterans in state facilities by expanding the Veterans’ Facility Ombudsman’s investigative authority, tightening abuse reporting and oversight requirements, and mandating coordinated, timely responses from state and local agencies to ensure veterans receive appropriate support, all contingent on related legislation.

Introduced in the House

Nov. 12, 2025

Introduced by Rep. Sharon MacDonell (D-56) and 30 co-sponsors

Co-sponsored by Reps. Julie Rogers (D-41), Cynthia Neeley (D-70), Julie Brixie (D-73), Emily Dievendorf (D-77), Mai Xiong (D-13), Erin Byrnes (D-15), Stephanie Young (D-16), Brenda Carter (D-53), Jason Morgan (D-23), Natalie Price (D-6), Matt Longjohn (D-40), Donavan McKinney (D-11), Angela Witwer (D-76), Joe Tate (D-9), Tullio Liberati (D-2), Regina Weiss (D-5), Penelope Tsernoglou (D-75), Samantha Steckloff (D-19), Veronica Paiz (D-10), Helena Scott (D-8), Denise Mentzer (D-61), Amos O’Neal (D-94), Carol Glanville (D-84), Tyrone Carter (D-1), Joey Andrews (D-38), Reggie Miller (D-31), Mike McFall (D-14), Matt Koleszar (D-22), Stephen Wooden (D-81) and Kelly Breen (D-21)

Referred to the Committee on Government Operations