Press Release  Massachusetts’ Disabled Veterans Benefitting from HERO Act

BOSTON — Ahead of Veterans Day 2024, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) and Executive Office of Veterans Services are reminding veterans they are eligible to receive fee waivers for various transactions at the RMV due to the most comprehensive piece of veterans’ legislation in Massachusetts history which was signed into law by Governor Healey in August 2024. The HERO Act, (An Act Honoring, Empowering, and Recognizing our Servicemembers and Veterans), includes over 30 provisions positively impacting veterans, including specific transactions veterans may conduct at the RMV.

“The expansion of the HERO Act enables us to show additional gratitude toward veterans who served and sacrificed for our country,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “While these benefits are just a small token, we hope all qualifying individuals will make full use of them in their dealings with the Registry. On behalf of all our MassDOT employees, we say ‘thank you’ to veterans for your service.”  

“It is an honor for all of us at the Registry of Motor Vehicles to facilitate the expansion of the HERO Act on behalf of Massachusetts veterans,” said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie. “With our service documentation requirements now even more seamless, I encourage disabled veterans and their family members to familiarize themselves with the available benefits and to reach out to us with their questions.” 

“We’re incredibly thankful for our partners at MassDOT for supporting the HERO Act’s provisions that bring real relief to our disabled veterans,” said Secretary Jon Santiago of the Executive Office of Veterans Services. “Waiving these fees is a concrete step toward easing the daily burdens veterans face, and from excise tax exemptions to waived license fees, we’re working to show that Massachusetts stands firmly committed to them.”

Every motor vehicle registered in Massachusetts is subject to the annual excise tax, unless exempted. Under the HERO Act expansion, all Massachusetts residents who qualify as a disabled veteran are now eligible to receive the excise tax exemption. To qualify, they must present a letter from the U.S. Veterans Affairs Office to the city or town where their vehicle is garaged. 

In addition, disabled veterans are no longer required to pay a vehicle registration fee for any vehicle registered in their name.  Previously, this benefit could only be applied to one vehicle registered in their name. Also, all of these veterans are no longer required to pay a transaction fee for a passenger driver’s license or for a passenger driver’s license renewal.       

A disabled veteran is determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to either have a combined service-connected disability rating of 100 percent or be individually unemployable due to their service-connected disability.

The legislation signed into law by Governor Healey in August 2024 increases benefits, modernizes services and promotes inclusivity for veterans in Massachusetts. In addition to provisions impacting veterans who drive, the legislation expands access to behavioral health treatment, supports businesses that hire veterans, updates the definition of a veteran, expands the Veterans Equality Review Board's scope, and codifies medical and dental benefits. 

RMV information for military service members, veterans, and their families can be found at mass.gov/military-and-veteran-rmv-information.

###