LANSING, Mich., March 12, 2026 — Today, state Rep. Will Snyder (D-Muskegon) introduced House Bill 5721 with wide bipartisan support. This legislation aims to protect veterans from predatory third-party services that charge fees to obtain DD214 military discharge forms, documents that are otherwise available free of charge through official government services.
“Veterans should never have to pay to access documents that already belong to them,” Snyder said. “I have heard stories from across the state of veterans who have paid hundreds of dollars for what they should have gotten for free. It is time that we stand up and protect our veterans.”
A DD214 is an essential document for veterans to verify their military service and access their VA benefits. However, some third-party services advertise the sale of these documents and charge veterans significant fees to obtain their service records, despite the fact that they are publicly available at no cost through government resources. Several other states have enacted legislation to combat these third-party actors. Snyder is laying the groundwork for Michigan to join these states in enacting measures that protect our veterans. HB 5721 would prohibit third-party entities from charging veterans for assistance when obtaining their DD214 forms.
“Agencies such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Archives, and the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency offer free assistance in obtaining DD214 paperwork. Additionally, veterans can also connect with their officials on both the state and federal levels. We have helped Muskegon veterans receive their DD214 at no cost,” Snyder added. “House Bill 5721 joins a broader effort to strengthen protections for veterans and to ensure that they are treated fairly, receive the documentation they have earned through their service, and do not fall victim to exploitation.”
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