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.
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).
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 It replaces outdated terms like "Massachusetts organized militia" with "members of the armed forces of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Massachusetts organized militia"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.
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 It replaces outdated terms like "Massachusetts organized militia" with "members of the armed forces of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Massachusetts organized militia"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.
This bill amends Chapter 32, Section 60 of Massachusetts law regarding veterans' retirement and pension eligibility. It removes the existing language that defined how veterans' service time affects pension calculations, specifically the rule about "creditable service" for veterans employed by state/local governments. The bill does not specify new provisions in the provided text, only the deletion of the current language. It directly affects veterans whose employment with Massachusetts government entities began before or after June 30, 1939. Without the replacement text, the specific new policy changes cannot be described from this excerpt.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
