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HB 5266

Veterans: other; office of veteran homelessness; create, and provide resources for homeless veterans. Creates new act.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joey Andrews and 29 co-sponsors

Creates the Office of Veteran Homelessness to coordinate resources, programs, and funding to prevent and address veteran homelessness in Michigan.

bill electronically reproduced 11/12/2025
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Bill Summary · HB 5266

HB 5266 — Veterans: Office of Veteran Homelessness (Veteran Homelessness Act) — Summary

Purpose

HB 5266 creates a new Office of Veteran Homelessness within the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to identify, coordinate, align, and acquire state, federal, local, and private resources and programs that prevent or address homelessness among veterans. The bill also establishes a dedicated fund to support the office and requires annual reporting on scope, activities, gaps, and recommendations.

Key provisions

  • Creates the Office of Veteran Homelessness in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The department director appoints an office director to manage operations.
  • Office duties include:
    • Identifying available programs and resources for homeless veterans (state, federal, local).
    • Coordinating and aligning resources/programs for optimal use.
    • Maintaining a public website describing resources/programs and office services.
    • Performing outreach and assisting veterans to access resources and programs.
    • Participating in interdepartmental coordination and monitoring related laws, rules, and budgets.
    • Recommending changes in law, policy, or budgets and establishing additional programs or acquiring private resources as needed.
  • Definitions: “Homeless/homelessness” refers to 42 U.S.C. §11302; “veteran” references Michigan statutory definition (1965 PA 190, MCL 35.61).
  • Creates the Veteran Homelessness Fund in the State Treasury:
    • Treasurer may accept and deposit money and assets from any source; interest credited to the fund.
    • Money in the fund does not lapse to the General Fund.
    • The department administers the fund; expenditures are by appropriation and limited to creation, implementation, and administration of the office.
    • Appropriates $1,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, to be deposited in the fund and made available for the office’s purposes.
  • Reporting requirement: Not later than January 1 each year the office must submit an operations report to the relevant appropriations and veterans/families committees. Required report contents include:
    • County-level estimate of homeless veterans,
    • Barriers to housing,
    • Summaries of available resources/programs and relevant federal VA initiatives,
    • Office activities from the prior fiscal year,
    • Gaps and recommendations for new resources/programs, and other policy recommendations.

Who is affected

  • Homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness in Michigan (direct beneficiaries).
  • Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (hosts and administers the office and fund).
  • State budget/appropriations process (initial $1 million appropriation and any future appropriations).
  • Local agencies, federal VA programs, and private partners that coordinate with or supply resources to the office.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Initial appropriation: $1,000,000 deposited into the Veteran Homelessness Fund for FY ending Sept. 30, 2026.
  • Ongoing expenditures require legislative appropriation from the fund.
  • Annual reporting (Jan. 1) establishes oversight and planning information flow to legislative committees.
  • Status: Filed March 14, 2025; introduced and read Nov. 12, 2025; referred to Committee on Government Operations. Companion bill: SB 2963.

Potential impact

  • Centralizes state-level coordination of veteran homelessness efforts, which may improve outreach, program alignment, and leverage of federal and private resources.
  • Outcomes depend on subsequent appropriations, staffing, and cooperation with VA, local governments, and community organizations.
  • Provides a mechanism for ongoing assessment and legislative recommendations to address gaps.

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

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