Bill extends free state park access to partially disabled veterans

HAZEL PARK/MADISON HEIGHTS — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed into law a new bill that will expand eligibility for the disabled veteran registration plate. Now, service members with 50% disability or higher are eligible. Before, it was limited only to those with 100% disability.

The measure, House Bill 5127, was signed into law Oct. 29. It was introduced by state Rep. Mike McFall, D-Hazel Park, who now serves the newly redistricted District 14.

The benefits of the registration plate are twofold. First, there is an element of respect: the plate signals the veteran’s service and sacrifice, inviting others to treat them with dignity. But more tangibly, it also provides disabled veterans with free access to all state parks in Michigan.

And unlike a similar provision in the state budget that isn’t guaranteed to return in future years, House Bill 5127 makes this benefit permanent for all who qualify.

McFall said one goal of the bill is to help disabled veterans with their mental health. Not all battle scars are physical, he said, alluding to challenges such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Access to Michigan’s state parks can be therapeutic, he added, with their serene landscapes and natural beauty along the Great Lakes. Between the Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula, Michigan boasts a total of 103 state parks, offering a mix of windswept beaches, lush green woods and sandy dunes.

“Going outside is good for everyone’s mental health, but it can be especially helpful for those with physical disabilities,” McFall said. “Mental health has always been one of my top priorities since first taking office in 2023, and this bill directly impacts that in a positive way.

“It’s very important that not only are veterans recognized for the sacrifice they made for us all, but that we hold up our end of the bargain, and make sure they’re fully supported when they come back home,” he said.

McFall noted that House Bill 5127 had bipartisan support — something not to take for granted in Lansing. The representative from Hazel Park lamented how veterans are sometimes treated like political props, where officeholders talk a big game about helping them but don’t always match their words with deeds. He said House Bill 5127 is a step in the right direction.

“Depending on where they were stationed and the nature of their disability, there could be multiple challenges they’re facing beyond a physical disability,” McFall said. “It’s so important to support them, both physically and mentally, because of how they’ve been impacted.”

He also pointed to increased rates of homelessness among the disabled veteran population, along with higher instances of suicide and self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.

“I’m hoping that at some point next year, we can pass additional legislation helping veterans as they deal with mental health issues,” McFall said.

One person who spoke on behalf of the bill in the state house is Sean Fleming, a member of the Madison Heights City Council. Fleming is a veteran who served with the Signal Corps in the U.S. Army during Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia and Croatia. He also previously served as the senior vice commander for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1407, which has members in both Madison Heights and Ferndale.

He said he previously pitched similar bills to legislators as far back as 2017, but prior attempts failed to cross the finish line.

“But when I told Mike McFall about my idea in 2023, he went right to work on it and had it reintroduced in its current form. Now it’s finally been made into law,” Fleming said. “I feel excited to see it get all the way through. Not only as a veteran myself, but for all the other veterans who will be able to enjoy the benefits of the plate.

“And personally, I have veteran friends who succumbed to suicide, so this is just another way to try and prevent that worst-case scenario,” he said. “I think being able to go someplace like a park, by yourself or with others, and kind of take in the planet, it really helps to de-stress yourself while living in this fast-paced world. Sometimes, you just need a break from it all.”