Benefit Expansion
$2,000 to $2,500
Increases the disabled veteran annuity
$2,500
Tax credit for small businesses hiring veterans
- Behavioral Health Treatment: Expands access to behavioral health treatment by allowing veterans to be reimbursed for visits to outpatient behavioral health providers.
- Increases the Disabled Veteran Annuity: Increases the disabled veteran annuity from $2,000 to $2,500, phased in over two years, and will be one payment, annually, on August 1.
- Increases the Vet-Hire Tax Credit: Increases to $2,500 a tax credit for small businesses hiring chronically unemployed or low-income veterans. Eligible veterans include those receiving SNAP benefits, chronically unemployed veterans, and unemployed service-connected disabled veterans.
- Active-Duty Buyback Program: Extends the timeframe for veterans in public service to utilize the Active-Duty Service Buyback program from 180 days to ten years.
- Prevents the "COLA Cliff": Ensures that a cost-of-living adjustment in Social Security benefits will not affect veterans' eligibility for Chapter 115 benefits mid-fiscal year.
- Increases Local Flexibility for Veterans Property Tax Exemptions: This bill allows municipalities to double property tax exemptions with local options and ties the annual property tax abatement amount to inflation.
- Protects Access to Sales Tax Exemption: Ensures that veterans who qualify for the disabled veteran license plate can use the Purple Heart specialty license plate for sales tax exemptions.
- Increases Support for Military-Connected Students: Requires public school districts to provide support services to military-connected students when a parent or guardian is called to active duty. (M.G.L. Chapter 178, Section 30 Acts of 2024)
- Creates a Military Family Advocacy Program: Establishes a program to protect against child abuse on military installations. (M.G.L. Chapter 178, Section 147 Acts of 2024)
- RMV Disabled Veteran Fee Update: Expands exemptions for motor vehicle excise tax, drivers license fee, and registration fee to all veterans who are 100% service-connected disabled.
Commitment to Inclusivity
- Broadens the Chapter 115 Definition of Veteran: Aligns the state Chapter 115 program definition with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs definition.
- Expands the Scope of the Veterans Equality Review Board: Includes discharges related to Military Sexual Trauma, PTSD, T.B.I., mental health conditions, or H.I.V.
- Expands the Definition of Veteran Dependent: Supports more dependents based on the Family Court definition. (M.G.L. Chapter 178, Section 156 Acts of 2024)
Modernization of Veterans Services
- Codifies Dental Assistance Benefits: Ensures veterans receive essential dental care by codifying dental benefits for Chapter 115 recipients.
- Codifies Medical Assistance Benefits: Provides consistent care to veterans by codifying medical assistance benefits.
- Codifies Authority for Veterans Cemeteries: Ensures proper management and care of veterans cemeteries.
- Modernizes Statute Language: Revises Chapters 115 and 115A for gender-neutral and inclusive language.
- Initiates a Study on Alternative Therapies for Mental Health: Establishes a working group to study the benefits of alternative therapies, such as psilocybin, for treating veterans' mental health disorders.
Recognition & Honoring our Veterans
- Half Staff Flag Requirement: Requires flags to be flown at half-staff from the day of death until the day of interment for any military service member residing in Massachusetts.
- Expands Gold Star Families Recognition: Requires the Governor to issue a proclamation on Memorial Day and illuminate certain bridges in gold.
- Establishes United States Space Force Day: Declares December 20th of each year as United States Space Force Day.
- Establishes United States Merchant Marine Day: Declares May 22nd of each year as the United States Merchant Marine Day.
May 22nd
United States Merchant Marine Day
December 20th
United States Space Force Day