Rep. Brenda Carter

Maddy summaryHB 5309 amends Michigan's Child Custody Act to clarify custody presumptions in specific disputes. It establishes that courts generally presume custody should go to parents unless a parent has been absent for 3 years (with exceptions for military service, incarceration, or medical reasons), and shifts the burden of proof to the party opposing parental custody. The bill also specifically prohibits awarding custody to a biological parent convicted of criminal sexual conduct against the child, unless the child (if old enough) consents, and clarifies that this does not affect the parent's child support obligations. These changes directly affect parents, guardians, and third parties involved in child custody cases where sexual offenses are alleged or proven.

Maddy summaryHB 5250, titled the "Weight Loss Products and Minors Act," prohibits retailers from selling dietary supplements marketed for weight loss or muscle building and over-the-counter diet pills to anyone under 18. It requires physical store sales to verify age using valid ID (like a driver's license), and online sales to confirm age through approved databases before shipping, with delivery requiring ID proof at time of receipt. The bill directly affects retailers selling these products and minors under 18, creating new requirements for age verification in both physical and virtual transactions. It does not change product safety standards but adds civil penalties for violations, including fines up to $1,000 per violation. The bill is pending in Michigan's Health Policy Committee as of its introduction on November 12, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5258 establishes a new "Iraq and Afghanistan veteran recognition certificate" for Michigan veterans who served honorably in those conflicts. To qualify, veterans must have been Michigan residents (or former residents) during their service, served during active combat periods in Iraq or Afghanistan, and received an honorable discharge. The certificate can be awarded only once per person, and family members may receive it if the veteran has passed away. This bill updates Michigan’s military recognition program to specifically honor veterans of recent conflicts, building on existing provisions for Vietnam War veterans.

Maddy summaryHB 5261 establishes a mental health support program within Michigan's Veterans Affairs Agency. It requires the agency to partner with the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct statewide outreach on mental health resources for service members, veterans, and their families (Section 322(1)(a)), develop materials to help families recognize mental health changes (Section 322(1)(b)), and collect data under the Protecting Veterans Mental Health Act (Section 322(1)(c)). The bill also creates a dedicated family support program for navigating mental health services (Section 322(2)) and allows digital platforms to connect veterans to resources (Section 322(3)), while protecting individual health records from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (Section 322(4)). The bill is contingent on the passage of companion bill HB 5270.

Maddy summaryHB 5267 requires Michigan's veterans' facility ombudsman to notify specific parties within 10 business days when deciding to investigate complaints or reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation in state veterans' homes. It directly affects resident veterans, their families, legal representatives, and the facilities themselves, as well as the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. The bill mandates written notification to complainants, affected veterans, and relevant departments upon initiating or declining an investigation, ensuring transparency in the process. This amendment to existing law (2016 PA 198) focuses on improving communication and accountability in handling facility abuse reports.

Maddy summaryHB 5263 requires Michigan veterans' facilities and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to forward written reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation to the Michigan Veterans’ Facility Ombudsman. This directly affects veterans' facilities, their employees, and the ombudsman, who gains authority to independently investigate such reports without needing facility approval. The bill mandates that facilities immediately send reports to the ombudsman, who can then interview staff, contractors, or witnesses to probe issues affecting resident veterans’ safety. These changes aim to ensure prompt, impartial reviews of facility conditions that pose health or safety risks to veterans.

Maddy summaryHB 5259 establishes a peer mentorship program within Michigan's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to connect active-duty military members (including National Guard and reserves) and veterans with volunteer mentors. The program helps participants access resources for education, employment, family issues, financial matters, and health care - including mental health and substance use disorder support through veteran navigators. Mentors must be recruited from veterans where possible, and program records are protected from public disclosure under Michigan's freedom of information law. The bill requires companion legislation (HB 5270) to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 5264 creates a new Michigan Military and Veteran Services Support Fund within the state treasury to provide tax-deductible donations for military members, veterans, and their families. The bill establishes a 7-member board (including agency directors and appointed experts in fundraising) to manage the fund, which will maintain separate accounts for military service members/families and veterans/community support. Contributions stay in the fund year-to-year, and the board can allocate funds for direct grants or supplemental support to state veteran programs. This bill directly affects military personnel, veterans, and their families by creating a dedicated funding mechanism for their services.

Maddy summaryHB 5280 adds a new tax deduction for retirement or pension benefits received by commissioned officers serving in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commissioned Officer Corps or the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, effective January 1, 2026. This change modifies Michigan's income tax code to allow these specific federal service members to deduct such benefits from their taxable income, similar to existing deductions for military and National Guard retirees. The bill directly affects Michigan taxpayers who are commissioned officers in these two federal corps, providing them with a targeted tax benefit for their retirement income. This is a concrete policy change to the state's tax code, not a procedural or commemorative measure.

Maddy summaryHB 5262 amends Michigan's definition of "veteran" to explicitly include members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commissioned Officer Corps and the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps who meet federal veteran criteria. It directly affects these uniformed service members by ensuring they qualify for state veterans' benefits and protections under Michigan law, similar to traditional military veterans. The key provision adds a new subsection defining "Veteran of the uniformed services" to cover these specific federal corps, mirroring federal eligibility under 38 USC 101. This change creates uniform recognition for these service members within Michigan's veteran support system. The bill is currently in committee referral after its introduction on November 12, 2025.