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H3874 • 2025

An Act relative to the Veterans’ Bonus Division

An Act relative to the Veterans’ Bonus Division

Active

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

Sponsor
Bridget Plouffe
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 summary does not provide specific details about the impact or full scope of the bill's provisions.

Act About Veterans' Bonus Division

This act updates eligibility criteria and definitions related to veterans' bonuses in Massachusetts.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines the terms 'Korean Emergency', 'Persian Gulf War', 'Vietnam Conflict', and 'World War II'.
  • Expands eligibility for veterans' bonuses to include current service members and those who have been residents of Massachusetts at any time before entering service.
  • Adds a provision allowing certain veterans discharged under specific conditions due to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status to be eligible for bonuses.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Veterans who served during World War II, Korean Emergency, Vietnam Conflict, and Persian Gulf War.
  • Current service members and those who have been residents of Massachusetts at any time before entering service.
  • Certain veterans discharged under specific conditions due to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status.

Terms To Know

Korean Emergency
The period from June 25, 1950 to January 31, 1955.
Persian Gulf War
The period from August 2, 1990 to April 10, 1991.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Some sections of the act are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.
  • The bill is still active and awaiting further formal steps as of June 1, 2026.

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 relative to the Veterans’ Bonus Division
By Representative Plouffe of Brockton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3874) of Bridget Plouffe relative to the Veterans’ Bonus Division. Veterans and Federal Affairs.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.3874

SECTION 1. Subsection (a) of section 78 of chapter 10 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following words:-

As used in this section, the term “Korean Emergency” shall mean the period on or after June 25, 1950 to January 31, 1955.

As used in this section, the term “Persian Gulf War” shall mean the period on or after August 2, 1990 to April 10, 1991.

As used in this section, the term “Vietnam Conflict” shall mean the period on or after July 1, 1958 to May 17, 1975.

As used in this section, the term “World War II” shall mean the period on or after September 16, 1940 to July 25, 1947.

SECTION 2. Subparagraph (1) of subsection (b) of said section 78 of said chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “served”, in line 16, the following words:- “, or is currently serving,”

SECTION 3. Subparagraph (1) of subsection (b) of said section 78 of said chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 19 through 23, the words “have been in the commonwealth for a period of not less than 6 months before the time of the person's entry into the service” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “be the commonwealth”

SECTION 4. Subparagraph (5) of said subsection (b) of said section 78 of said chapter 10 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking

out, in line 44, the word “Medal” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “Medal, or equivalent Expeditionary Medal,”

SECTION 5. Said subparagraph (5) of said subsection (b) of said section 78 of said chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 48 through 52, the words “have been in the commonwealth for a period of not less than 6 months immediately before the time of the person's entry into service” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- be the commonwealth

SECTION 6. Said subsection (b) of said section 78 of said chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing is hereby further amended by inserting at the end thereof the following subparagraph:-

(6) Upon application, as provided in this section and as specified in rules and regulations established by the treasurer, there shall be allowed and paid out of the treasury of the commonwealth, without appropriation, the sums specified in such rules and regulations to each person who has served in the armed forces of the United States in active service as part of World War II, the Korean Emergency, the Vietnam War or the Persian Gulf War; provided, however, that the domicile of a person on account of whose service the application is filed shall be the commonwealth; and provided further, that any veteran discharged or released under other than honorable conditions due to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or HIV status based on the veteran's DD-214 form or equivalent documentation shall be eligible for a bonus under this section.

SECTION 7. Subsection (e) of said section 78 of said chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the fifth and sixth sentences.

SECTION 8. Subsection (e) of said section 78 of said chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 100, the word “section” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- act

SECTION 9. Subsection (e) of said section 78 of said chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 106-107, the word “designed” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- designated

SECTION 10. Subsection (g) of said section 78 of said chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “service”, in line X, the following words:- “during the enlistment period”

SECTION 11. Chapter 731 of the acts of 1945, as amended by chapter 210 of the acts of 1946, is hereby repealed.

SECTION 12. Chapter 210 of the acts of 1946 is hereby repealed.

SECTION 13. Chapter 581 of the acts of 1946, as amended by chapter 210 of the acts of 1946, is hereby repealed.

SECTION 14. Chapter 440 of the Acts of 1953 is hereby repealed.

SECTION 15. Chapter 646 of the acts of 1968 is hereby repealed.

SECTION 16. Chapter 325 of the acts of 1969 is hereby repealed.

SECTION 17. Section 16 of chapter 130 of the acts of 2005 is hereby repealed.

SECTION 18. Section 2 shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

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