H3829 • 2025

An Act prohibiting the Massachusetts National Guard from being deployed into active combat without a formal declaration of war by congress

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Christine P. Barber (By Request)
Last action: 2026-04-13
Official status: Accompanied a study order, see H5357 (under House Rule 27)
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act prohibiting the Massachusetts National Guard from being deployed into active combat without a formal declaration of war by congress

An Act prohibiting the Massachusetts National Guard from being deployed into active combat without a formal declaration of war by congress By Representative Barber of Somerville (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

An Act prohibiting the Massachusetts National Guard from being deployed into active combat without a formal declaration of war by congress By Representative Barber of Somerville (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
3829) of Jason Brand relative to prohibiting the Massachusetts National Guard from being deployed into active combat without a formal declaration of war by congress.
Veterans and Federal Affairs.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-04-13 House
Accompanied a study order, see H5357 (under House Rule 27)
2025-09-08 Joint
Hearing scheduled for 09/16/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
2025-02-27 House
Referred to the committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs
2025-02-27 Senate
Senate concurred
House
Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order

Official Summary Text

An Act prohibiting the Massachusetts National Guard from being deployed into active combat without a formal declaration of war by congress
By Representative Barber of Somerville (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3829) of Jason Brand relative to prohibiting the Massachusetts National Guard from being deployed into active combat without a formal declaration of war by congress. Veterans and Federal Affairs.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

×

Bill H.3829

SECTION 1. Chapter 33 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after Section 139 the following new section:-

Section 140

a) As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

“Active-duty combat” is performing the following services in the active federal military service of the United States: participation in an armed conflict; performance of a hazardous service in a foreign state; or performance of a duty through an instrumentality of war.

“Official declaration of war” is an official declaration of war made by the United States Congress pursuant to Article I, § 8, Clause 11 of the United States Constitution.

b) Notwithstanding any other provision of the General Laws, the Massachusetts National Guard and any member thereof shall not be released from the state into active duty combat unless the United States Congress has passed an official declaration of war or has taken an official action pursuant to Article I, § 8, Clause 15 of the United States Constitution to explicitly call forth the Massachusetts National Guard and any member thereof for the enumerated purposes to expressly execute the laws of the union, repel an invasion or suppress an insurrection. The Governor shall take all actions necessary to comply with the requirements of this section.

SECTION 2. Section 1 shall become effective immediately upon passage.

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The General Court provides this information as a public service and while we endeavor to keep the data accurate and current to the best of our ability, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

Close