HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2430        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4002

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Kip A. Diggs

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to expanding benefits for disabled veterans and their families.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2430        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4002

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to expanding benefits for disabled veterans and their families.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 115 of the General Laws, as amended by section 47 of chapter 178 of the acts of 2024, is hereby further amended by adding the following section:

Section 19. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

“Dependents”, legal dependents of the disabled veteran who are of driving age at the time of their death.

“Disabled veteran”, a veteran with a service-connected disability recognized by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, regardless of disability per centage.

“Surviving spouse”, the spouse of a disabled veteran at the time of the veteran’s death; provided that, they have not remarried.

(b)(1) Disabled veterans with service-connected disabilities rated less than 100 per cent shall be eligible for proportional state benefits based on their disability rating. Disabled veteran benefits shall include, but are not limited to: (i) property tax exemptions scaled to the veteran’s disability rating; (ii) partial healthcare assistance for medical, behavioral health and dental services; (iii) tuition waivers or reductions at state colleges and universities in the commonwealth, proportional to the veteran’s disability rating; and (iv) priority placement in state job training and employment programs.

(2) Disabled veterans with disabilities rated at 50 per cent or higher may apply for state-funded grants to modify their homes to meet accessibility needs. Rental assistance or partial housing vouchers shall be available to eligible such veterans based on financial need.

(3) Disabled veterans and their surviving spouses shall be exempt from all state-imposed fees associated with business licenses, professional certifications and occupational licenses. The department of veterans’ services shall coordinate with relevant state agencies to streamline the application and approval process for such fee waivers.

(c)(1) Surviving spouses shall remain eligible, after the disabled veteran’s death, for the following benefits: (i) enrollment in state-sponsored health insurance plans with premiums equivalent to those offered to veterans; (ii) tuition-free education at state colleges and universities; and (iii) access to state-funded behavioral health and counseling services.

The benefits available to surviving spouses pursuant to this paragraph shall continue for the lifetime of the surviving spouse or until remarriage.

(2) Surviving spouses shall receive a monthly pension equal to 50 per cent of the veteran’s eligible benefits, adjusted annually for inflation.

(d) Until they reach the age of 24, dependents shall be eligible, after the disabled veteran’s death, for the following benefits: (i) financial assistance for education and living expenses; and (ii) enrollment in state health insurance programs.

(e) The secretary of veterans’ services shall be appointed as the liaison for surviving spouses and dependents to assist in accessing benefits in this section.

(f) The department of veterans’ services shall oversee the implementation of this section and shall establish clear guidelines for application and eligibility verification.

(g) The department of veterans’ services shall prepare an annual report that shall include: (i) the number of veterans and survivors benefiting from this section; (ii) total expenditures and cost projections for the upcoming fiscal year; and (iii) recommendations for improvements or adjustments to this section. The annual report shall be submitted, not later than December 31 to the: joint committee on veterans and federal affairs; house and senate committees on ways and means; and the clerks of the house of representatives and senate. The annual report shall be made publicly available on the department of veterans’ services website to ensure transparency and accountability.