An Act to reform veterans’ services at the municipal level

This bill requires Massachusetts cities and towns with populations over 12,000 to appoint a full-time veterans' agent or director of veterans' services. Currently, municipalities with this population size may only have part-time staff for these roles, but the law now mandates a full-time position starting at the beginning of each fiscal year. If a qualifying municipality fails to make this appointment, the state secretary can impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for each month of noncompliance. The measure directly affects local governments in larger communities and aims to ensure more consistent support for veterans through dedicated staffing.