Veterans (Government Transparency)

H 5004 amends Massachusetts public records laws to clarify which government entities and communications are subject to disclosure. It expands the definition of "public records" to include the General Court and Governor's office, while adding specific exemptions: communications between legislators and constituents about benefits/services, and policy development documents. The bill also explicitly excludes veterans' service records from public disclosure. These changes take effect January 1, 2027, and directly affect how state agencies, the legislature, and governor's office handle public records requests.