Veterans

SB 370 creates Michigan's "Tricare premium reimbursement program" to help National Guard members cover health insurance costs. It directly affects Michigan National Guard members eligible for Tricare Reserve Select or Tricare Dental programs who aren't covered by employer plans or other insurance. The program reimburses members for premiums they pay for these specific Tricare plans, using funds from the existing Michigan National Guard Member Benefit Fund. To qualify, members must apply through a department-form on the website, and reimbursements are made only if sufficient funds are available.

HB 5089 amends Michigan's memorial highway law to rename four specific segments of M-60 in Jackson County after veterans. Each segment is designated with a memorial name honoring distinct groups: WWII veterans (Lynford Graham, Melvin King, Vernon Smalley), Vietnam War veterans (Timothy Ballinger, Robert Jenks, James Morgan), and an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran (Donald Wheeler Jr.). The bill directly affects drivers using these M-60 portions by changing their official highway names. It does not create new policies or funding, only renaming existing road segments per the memorial highway act. The bill passed unanimously in the Michigan House on December 2, 2025.

HB 4962 creates a new Michigan National Guard Member Benefit Fund to provide financial support to eligible service members. The bill establishes a dedicated state fund to assist National Guard members with specific needs, though implementation details like funding sources or administration are not specified in the provided context. This law became effective immediately upon the Governor's approval on November 4, 2025, as codified under PA 31'25. It directly affects current and former Michigan National Guard members who qualify for the benefits outlined in the new fund.

This bill designates a specific section of US-131 in Mecosta County as the "Sgt. Matthew Webber Memorial Highway" to honor a fallen service member. The legislation amends Michigan's highway naming laws by adding a new section that officially names the stretch of road between 11 Mile Road and Old State Road. This change affects only the official signage and legal designation of that roadway segment, with no changes to traffic rules or road maintenance responsibilities. The memorial name serves as a permanent tribute to Sgt. Webber within the state's transportation infrastructure.

HB 4145 designates a specific 1-mile segment of US-127 in Jackson County (between mile markers 39 and 40) as the "2nd Lt. Roosevelt Stiger Memorial Highway." This procedural bill amends Michigan's Memorial Highway Act to add this designation, honoring 2nd Lieutenant Roosevelt Stiger, a military veteran. The highway segment itself is the direct subject of the naming change, with no new policies or funding mechanisms involved. The bill passed unanimously in the Michigan House on May 20, 2025.