Veterans (Veteran Benefits) in Massachusetts

in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Aug 4, 2026

SD 3836: An Act amending the eligibility date for annuities for blind veterans, paraplegic veterans or veterans with disabilities

By Ms. Edwards (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Edward Joseph Kennedy for legislation to amend the eligibility date for annuities for blind veterans, paraplegic veterans or veterans with disabilities. Veterans and Federal Affairs.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Jun 23, 2026

S 3136: Order relative to authorizing the joint committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs to make an investigation and study of a certain current Senate document relative to expanding the mission of the Office of the Veteran Advocate

Senate, June 18, 2026 -- The committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2466) of Ryan C. Fattman, John J. Cronin and Bruce E. Tarr for legislation to expanding the mission of the Office of the Veteran Advocate, report the accompanying Order (Senate, No. 3136).

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 2516: An Act amending death and disability compensation for members of the armed forces and the organized militia of the Commonwealth

This bill updates Massachusetts law to expand death compensation eligibility for military members. It replaces outdated terms like "Massachusetts organized militia" with "members of the armed forces of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Massachusetts organized militia" throughout the law. The bill creates a specific "Death Gratuity Board" to determine benefits and clarifies that service under federal military codes (Titles 10/32) qualifies for compensation. It directly affects families of Massachusetts military personnel who die while performing duty, including state and federal service. The changes streamline eligibility without altering benefit amounts or creating new financial obligations.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4199: An Act amending death and disability compensation for members of the armed forces and the organized militia of the Commonwealth

This bill updates Massachusetts law to expand death compensation eligibility for military members. It replaces outdated terms like "Massachusetts organized militia" with "members of the armed forces of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Massachusetts organized militia" throughout the law. The changes clarify that benefits apply to those who die while performing qualified duty under state or federal orders (including State Active Duty and Title 10/32 U.S. Code service), and establish the "Death Gratuity Board" to determine benefits. The board must now recommend decisions to the Adjutant General, streamlining the process for families of eligible service members.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 266: An Act to increase the annuity for disabled veterans and their families

This bill increases the annual annuity payment for disabled veterans and their families from $2,000 to $5,000. It amends Section 6B of Chapter 115 of the General Laws by replacing the figure "$2,000" with "$5,000" in three specific lines of the statute. The change directly affects veterans and families currently receiving this annuity under the existing law. The policy adjustment is a straightforward increase to the payment amount without altering eligibility requirements.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 598: An Act to reform veterans’ services at the municipal level

This bill requires cities and towns with populations over 12,000 that currently use part-time veterans' agents or directors to appoint full-time staff starting each fiscal year. Municipalities failing to comply face a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for each month of noncompliance, with each month treated as a separate offense. The law directly affects larger municipalities that previously maintained part-time veterans' service roles. It mandates a concrete change in staffing structure for veteran services at the municipal level, with specific enforcement penalties.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Employment Veteran Housing

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 953: An Act relative to dependent eligibility for Chapter 115 benefits

This bill changes eligibility rules for veterans' dependents under Massachusetts' Chapter 115 benefits program. It allows dependents of veterans to qualify for benefits even if they lack the standard one-day Massachusetts residency requirement, provided they can prove they lived in Massachusetts for at least one year before applying. The key change removes the previous residency barrier for these dependents, replacing it with a one-year residency proof requirement. This directly affects veterans' spouses and children seeking benefits under this specific program.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Military Families Veteran Benefits Veteran Education

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1981: An Act relative to a commission to redetermine the definition of disabled veteran in the laws and regulations for the registry of motor vehicles

HD 1981 creates a commission to study and potentially update the legal definition of "disabled veteran" used in Massachusetts vehicle registration rules. The commission would review how the current definition applies to veterans seeking special license plates or registration benefits through the Registry of Motor Vehicles. This bill directly affects veterans who currently qualify for or may qualify for these vehicle registration benefits based on their disability status. The commission's work would determine if the definition needs adjustment, but the bill itself does not change the definition or benefits. (Note: This is a draft bill currently under review by House Counsel.)

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 1221: An Act providing for timely reimbursement of cities and towns for veterans' benefits

SD 1221 changes the timeline for reimbursing cities and towns that pay veterans' benefits. It replaces the previous deadline of "November tenth in the year after expenditures" with a new requirement: reimbursement must be made "no later than 6 months after the date on which such expenditures are certified by the secretary." This directly affects local governments that provide veterans' benefits, ensuring they receive reimbursement within six months of the state certifying their costs. The bill amends section 6 of chapter 115 of the General Laws and takes effect two years after enactment.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2725: An Act relative to vacation time for employees of the Commonwealth who are veterans

HD 2725 amends Massachusetts law to ensure veteran Commonwealth employees who purchase creditable service time through their retirement system receive proper vacation time benefits. The bill requires retirement boards to notify the relevant human resources department whenever a veteran employee buys such service time. This notification allows the employee to count the purchased time toward their vacation accrual rate as a Commonwealth employee. The law directly affects veterans employed by state agencies who use retirement system service purchases. It changes the administrative process for calculating vacation time, not the amount of vacation earned.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits

All veterans bills