Bay County Department of Veteran Affairs

05/20/2026

A new option is available to US DEERS ID card holders. If you had your picture taken at a DEERS office in the last 12 years, you do not need another one to renew your USID (100% disabled) or Retiree/Dependent cards.

Note: This has to be accomplished by the sponsor. If the veteran has passed, the sponsor information must be updated at a DEERS office.

Select Family ID Cards once you click this link: https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/

You can still visit Lansing or Detroit area DEERS offices to renew your cards. Select ID Card Office Locator & Appointments to get scheduled on the above link.

We do not have the capability to issue or renew ID cards for DOD or VA at our office.

Consolidated ID Card Office Online

05/20/2026

Memorial Day, May 25, 2026 Schedule of Ceremonies.

05/03/2026

Smith Food Pantry Food Giveaway

05/01/2026

Update on H.R. 2102-Major Richard Star Act.

H. Res. 1247 was introduced in to the US House of Representatives to Congress today to force a floor vote as the bill has been stalled in committee, and has been repeatedly introduced since 2020. Link below also listing current members of the House that have signed on to the resolution/discharge petition.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/1247?s=8&r=14&fbclid=IwdGRjcARhw6VjbGNrBGHDnGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHlL9o1XGhjyHp_t9V21kac5X5OCS1-ovhRNKbBR7LQMDVeSpC-r5C2fn8nIZ_aem_Yaqv2ixR04wVSqjmkIsGSw

04/27/2026

Bay County Department of Veteran Affairs is looking at expanding hours once a month, on a Saturday, to provide VA claims assistance.

We realize that many of our county veterans work during our regular hours of operation and we want to find ways that we can expand those services.

If this would assist you in your pursuit of VA benefits, please comment so we know how many area veterans might be in need of this. As always these services are free of charge to veterans.

04/16/2026

Recent news from the VA class action lawsuit Freund v. Collins. If you are one of the 28,258 veterans across the US whose VA Board of Appeals legacy claim case was closed while still in process you will now have the case reopened and sent back to review. Please feel free to contact our office if you have a question. More on that at -

The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims certified Freund v. Collins lawsuit as a class action. This notice discusses the proposed settlement, and more.

04/08/2026

Correction to yesterday's post about Bay County Veteran Affairs Committee appointments(2 seats available). Please apply online on the county website or stop in to the Bay County Board of Commissioners office, 4th floor in the Bay County building at 515 Center Ave.

04/06/2026

https://www.vfw.org/media-and-events/latest-releases/archives/2026/3/vfw-appalled-major-richard-star-act-vote-blocked-for-second-time?fbclid=IwdGRjcARAmHpjbGNrBECYdGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHlg5sjcgddNk1m8XJ_aOslqnUgHIM3Whm5w7yAXMrViUVN0juFZH5KHxmQep_aem_PpBmuKgz-qqUv9jTZPO7qA

VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore criticizes the Senate for blocking the Major Richard Star Act (S. 1032) for a second time. Read the full VFW response here.

04/01/2026

Please note that Bay County Offices will be closed on Friday, April 3, 2026, in observance of Good Friday. We will reopen for regular business on Monday, April 6, 2026!

02/19/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/183JW2UcEM/

DAV applauds Secretary Collins’ decision to halt the implementation of VA’s rule regarding the impact of medication on evaluation ratings for service-connected disabilities. We appreciate the Secretary listening to and acting on the concerns of those who have served and sacrificed for this natio...