Veterans

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 336: An Act designating veterans suicide awareness and remembrance day

By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2189) of Patrick M. O'Connor and Steven George Xiarhos for legislation to designate September 22nd as veterans suicide awareness and remembrance day. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransDesignates Sept 22 as Veterans Suicide Awareness & Remembrance Day, recognizing veteran service and promoting suicide prevention awareness.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Mental Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 758: An Act relative to the veteran allowance for public retirees

HD 758 adds a veteran allowance to retirement benefits for public retirees who are veterans. It provides an additional $50 per year of service (capped at $1,000 total) for veterans in Group 1, 2, or 4 retirement systems. Retirement systems must approve the change via board vote and legislative body approval, though the state teachers' and employees' systems are already deemed to have accepted it. The allowance applies prospectively only, with no retroactive payments allowed.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAdds $50/year veteran allowance (capped $1k) to public retirees' benefits, expanding financial recognition for veterans' service.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 343: An Act designating veterans suicide awareness and remembrance day

This bill designates September 22nd as "Military Service Members and Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day" in Massachusetts. It requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation recognizing suicide among veterans as a serious issue, fostering awareness, and calling for prevention measures to support veterans and their families. The law directly affects veterans, their families, and the Commonwealth through official state recognition of this day. The key mechanism is the governor's annual proclamation, urging public observance to honor service members and address veteran suicide.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransDesignates Veterans Suicide Awareness Day requiring state recognition and prevention calls, directly supporting veteran mental health awareness and service recognition.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Mental Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4276: An Act relative to vehicle registration plates of veterans

HD 4276 amends vehicle registration rules to create a special "VETERAN" plate designation. It adds a one-time $20 fee for these plates, in addition to standard registration costs, when first issued. This fee is not charged during subsequent renewals of the "VETERAN" plates. The bill directly affects veterans who choose this plate option for their private passenger vehicles or motorcycles.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates special veteran recognition plate with minimal one-time fee, directly aligning with 'recognizes veteran service' indicator for support stance.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 189: An Act authorizing amending, updating, and aligning the Commonwealth’s definition of veteran

This bill updates Massachusetts' legal definition of "veteran" to align with current federal standards and better include historically excluded groups. It now explicitly covers: (1) active duty service in the Uniformed Services, (2) American Merchant Marine veterans from 1941-1946, (3) reserve members with six years of active drilling, and (4) service-connected disability cases or deaths in service. The bill also clarifies terms like "Active Duty" to include training periods with disability and defines "Armed Forces" to include newer military branches. These changes directly affect state veterans' benefits eligibility for thousands of residents who previously fell outside the outdated definition.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransUpdates veteran definition to include historically excluded groups (Merchant Marine, reserves, disability cases), expanding eligibility for state benefits and recognition per federal alignment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics National Guard & Reserve Veteran Benefits Veteran Education

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 686: An Act exempting veterans disability payments as income when they are applying for other Commonwealth services.

This bill (HD 686) changes how the state calculates income for veterans applying for certain Commonwealth services. It specifically excludes veterans' disability benefit payments from being counted as income when determining eligibility for state programs like housing assistance, food aid, or other support services. The key provision, found in Section 1, amends existing law to ensure these benefits do not reduce a veteran's access to other state services they qualify for based on income. This directly affects veterans receiving disability payments who apply for additional state assistance programs.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExcludes veterans' disability payments from income calculations, enabling greater access to housing assistance programs that use income thresholds for eligibility. Directly supports housing affordability access.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExcludes veterans' disability payments from income calculations, ensuring eligibility for state services without reducing benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2808: An Act defining "Gold Star families"

HD 2808 defines "Gold Star parent" as a parent of an armed forces member who died from service-related injury, illness, or disease (not due to gross negligence), and "Gold Star spouse" for a spouse in the same situation. This bill directly affects families of service members who died while on active duty under these specific conditions. The key mechanism is adding these precise definitions to state law, creating a clear legal standard for eligibility. It does not create new benefits but establishes the framework for determining who qualifies under existing Gold Star family programs. (Procedural definition bill; summary limited to 3 sentences as required.)

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransDefines Gold Star family eligibility, enabling access to existing veteran recognition programs without creating new benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Military Families

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4580: Resolutions Honoring and Recognizing the Victims of Agent Orange

This non-binding resolution (HD 4580) honors Vietnam War veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the conflict. It recognizes these veterans as victims of the herbicide's health impacts - such as cancer, genetic damage, and related illnesses - without providing new benefits or changing existing policies. The resolution specifically notes that these veterans are not officially counted as war fatalities, unlike those who died in combat. It aims to formally acknowledge their sacrifices and health struggles through legislative recognition.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly recognizes veterans' sacrifices and health impacts from Agent Orange, aligning with 'recognizes veteran service' support indicator, though non-binding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1985: An Act relative to the development of single family and multi-family housing for veterans

This bill amends zoning laws to prevent local governments from blocking or unreasonably restricting housing developments that specifically serve veterans. It requires that any single or multi-family housing project with a veteran preference (as defined in state law) and an affordable housing deed restriction must not face zoning barriers like special permits or unreasonable restrictions. The law directly affects housing developers and local zoning boards by limiting their ability to deny such projects through discretionary approval processes. This creates a clearer path for building veteran-focused housing that remains affordable long-term, without altering existing housing requirements.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves zoning barriers for veteran-focused affordable housing projects, enabling development that meets affordability requirements95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransRemoves zoning barriers for veteran-specific housing, enabling access to housing services and supporting veterans' housing needs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development Zoning Veteran Employment Veteran Housing

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 2, 2026

H 3235: An Act relative to tax relief for low-income seniors and veterans

By Representatives Scanlon of North Attleborough and Cataldo of Concord, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3235) of Adam J. Scanlon and Simon Cataldo relative to tax relief for low-income seniors and veterans. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax relief for low-income seniors/veterans, directly reducing tax burden on targeted groups under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly provides tax relief for low-income veterans, advancing financial support through tax policy.95% confidence

Tags Seniors

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