Delegates consider creating a veterans and military families ombudsman in HB 142 after testimony on gaps in access and care

Delegate April Miller presented House Bill 142, a measure to establish an ombudsman for veterans and military families in the Department of Veterans and Military Families (DVMF). Miller framed the bill with personal examples and testimony from veterans and family members describing difficulty navigating benefits, long waits for mental-health and dental treatment through the VA, and challenges for military spouses seeking education, employment, and child care assistance.

Miller said the ombudsman would provide a single point of contact — "one call" — for veterans and families to get individualized help navigating federal, state, and local resources, coordinate across agencies, identify systemic gaps, and elevate recurring issues to DVMF and the General Assembly. The bill would require the position be filled by a veteran, Miller said, and proponents argued that a veteran ombudsman would deliver culturally competent advocacy and reduce barriers for families in crisis.

Witnesses included veterans who described delays of nine months or longer to begin counseling or specialized care and cited difficulty finding timely, usable help. David Dragics of the Maryland Military Coalition called the position "long overdue" and said the department's current community outreach role is a marketing function, not an ombudsman function; he and others said outreach does not substitute for neutral complaint intake, investigation, and conflict resolution.

AARP Maryland also provided virtual testimony supporting the bill and highlighting issues such as improper claims-assistance providers charging veterans fees for services that should be free when provided by VA-accredited representatives.

Committee members raised the fiscal note: staff estimated costs to create the ombudsman position and related operating expenses. Chair Pena Melnik asked Delegate Miller to meet with the Department of Veterans and Military Families to explore whether existing resources could be used to implement a hotline or other services and to return to the committee with options. Miller agreed to schedule follow-up meetings. The committee kept the bill under consideration pending that consultation and subcommittee work.