Maryland Senate Bill SB6

Maryland 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/8/24
• Introduced: 1/8/25
• Refer: 1/8/24
• Refer: 1/8/25

Caption

State Government - Veterans and Military Families Ombudsman - Establishment

Summary

SB6 establishes a Veterans and Military Families Ombudsman within the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families. The ombudsman is intended to serve as a central resource for veterans and military families seeking information about their rights, available services, and how to navigate state and federal programs. The bill requires the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families to appoint the ombudsman to a five-year term, with removal for cause, and provides that the ombudsman must be a veteran. The bill gives the ombudsman a broad set of duties, including explaining rights, providing impartial guidance, working with the department and outside organizations, advocating for veterans and military families, identifying complaint patterns, and making referrals to services and programs. It also requires a toll-free phone line available in English and other appropriate languages, and annual reports to the Governor and General Assembly beginning July 1, 2026. The reporting must include call volume, complaint patterns, services provided, and recommendations for improving state services.

Impact

SB6 amends the State Government Article by adding a new Part IX on the Veterans and Military Families Ombudsman and by updating definitions in § 9-901 to include the new office. It creates a new state position and associated staffing, operational, and hotline costs to be funded through the State budget. The bill would affect the Department of Veterans and Military Families, veterans, military families, and any state or private entities that coordinate services for those populations.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the overall tone appears supportive and administrative rather than controversial. The measure is framed as a service-oriented effort to improve access to information, coordination, and advocacy for veterans and military families. No opposition or recorded debate is included in the available context.

Contention

The main potential points of contention are structural and fiscal rather than policy-based. The bill creates a new office, requires a veteran to serve as ombudsman, and places salary, staffing, hotline, and operating expenses into the State budget, which could raise questions about cost and implementation. The ombudsman’s role also includes both neutral assistance and advocacy, which may prompt discussion about how the office balances impartial guidance with representing veterans’ interests, but no specific objections are shown in the provided record.