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HB 5262

Veterans: other; definition for veteran of the uniformed services; create. Amends sec. 1 of 1965 PA 190 (MCL 35.61).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joey Andrews and 28 co-sponsors

HB 5262 expands Michigan’s veteran definition to include NOAA and PHS Commissioned Corps officers (and their survivors) who meet federal veteran criteria.

bill electronically reproduced 11/12/2025
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Bill Summary · HB 5262

Summary — HB 5262 (2025)

Status: Introduced — referred to committee (filed Mar 14, 2025; electronically reproduced Nov 12–13, 2025)
Primary sponsor: Rep. Veronica Paiz; many cosponsors

Purpose / intent

HB 5262 amends Michigan’s statutory definition of “veteran” (1965 PA 190, §1; MCL 35.61) to explicitly recognize officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commissioned Officer Corps and the Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps as “veterans of the uniformed services,” when they qualify under the cited federal statutes and meet the same discharge standard as other veterans. The bill seeks to clarify and expand the state definition so these commissioned corps members and their survivors are included where state law uses the term “veteran.”

Key provisions

  • Amends section 1 of 1965 PA 190 (MCL 35.61).
  • Retains the existing definition of “veteran” as an individual who served in the U.S. Armed Forces (including reserve components) and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable; includes individuals who died while on active duty.
  • Adds a definition for “veteran of the uniformed services” to include:
    • Commissioned officers of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps and the PHS Commissioned Corps, who qualify as veterans under federal law (referenced: 38 U.S.C. §§ 101–8528), and
    • Individuals from those corps who died while on active duty.
  • Specifies that inclusion is conditioned on qualifying under the referenced federal definitions and not being discharged under dishonorable conditions.

Who is affected

  • Directly: current and former commissioned officers of the NOAA and PHS Commissioned Corps (and their survivors) who meet federal veteran qualifications and the Michigan discharge standard.
  • Indirectly: state agencies, local governments, educational institutions, licensing boards, and benefit programs that apply Michigan’s “veteran” definition for eligibility, preferences, exemptions, or recognitions — they may need to apply the revised definition in statutes, rules, forms, and procedures.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Filed March 14, 2025; read and referred (April 7, 2025) to Public Education in early records.
  • Later electronically reproduced and reintroduced/processed Nov 12–13, 2025; at that time it was read and referred to the House Committee on Government Operations.
  • Next steps: committee consideration, possible hearings/amendments, and votes in the House and Senate before becoming law.

Fiscal/administrative impact

  • The bill does not appropriate funds. Administrative effects are likely limited to updating eligibility determinations, forms, guidance, and outreach by agencies that administer veteran-related benefits and services. No explicit cost estimates are provided in the bill text.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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