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H3859 • 2025

An Act to streamline veterans benefits

An Act to streamline veterans benefits

Active

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

Sponsor
Meghan K. Kilcoyne
Last action
2026-06-01
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5466 (under House Rule 27)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the bill will be implemented or its potential impact.

Streamlining Veterans Benefits

This act changes how veterans and their dependents apply for benefits in Massachusetts, making it easier to receive payments directly from the state.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes old sections of law that are no longer needed and adds new ones to make sure veterans' applications are handled correctly.
  • Makes it clear that Veterans Service Officers must give information directly to the state so payments can go straight to veterans or their dependents.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Veterans who live in Massachusetts
  • Dependents of veterans living in Massachusetts

Terms To Know

Veterans Service Officer
A person who helps veterans and their families apply for benefits.
Commonwealth
Another word for the state of Massachusetts.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much money will be saved or if it will help more people get benefits.
  • It is unclear when this act will become law and start to affect veterans and their families.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-01 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5466 (under House Rule 27)

  2. 2025-06-17 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 06/24/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1

  3. 2025-06-12 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 06/24/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in 437

  4. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs

  5. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

  6. House

    Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order

Official Summary Text

An Act to streamline veterans benefits
By Representative Kilcoyne of Clinton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3859) of Meghan K. Kilcoyne relative to veterans' benefits. Veterans and Federal Affairs.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.3859

Section 1. Section 5 of Chapter 115 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following: Veterans’ benefits shall be paid to a veteran or dependents by the Commonwealth; provided, that no benefits shall be paid to a veteran unless he has actually resided in the Commonwealth for 1 day preceding the date of his application for such benefits, nor shall any benefits be paid to any dependent of a veteran unless he has actually resided in the Commonwealth continuously for three years next preceding the date of his application for such benefits, nor unless the veteran of whom he is a dependent has actually resided within the commonwealth continuously for three years next preceding the date of such dependent’s application for such benefits.

Section 2. Section 6 of Chapter 115 of the General Laws is hereby stricken in its entirety and replaced by inserting its place the following: The application for veterans benefits is a function of the Veterans Service Officer in the city or town or district where the veteran or his dependent resides. The Veterans Service Officer is required to certify to the Commonwealth for direct payment to the veteran or dependent receiving the benefit the following information: the names of recipients thereof, the amounts to be paid to or for each applicant, the reasons for granting him such benefits, dates of residence in the Commonwealth, the names of the veterans on account of whose services the benefits were granted, the names, if any, of the companies, regiments, stations, organizations or vessels in which they respectively served, or to which they were appointed, and in which they last served, and the relationship of each dependent to the veteran on the account.

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