KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Massachusetts

H3890 • 2025

An Act amending death and disability compensation for members of the armed forces and the organized militia of the Commonwealth

An Act amending death and disability compensation for members of the armed forces and the organized militia of the Commonwealth

Active

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

Sponsor
Steven George Xiarhos
Last action
2025-10-28
Official status
Referred to Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs
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 amending death and disability compensation for members of the armed forces and the organized militia of the Commonwealth

An Act amending death and disability compensation for members of the armed forces and the organized militia of the Commonwealth By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act amending death and disability compensation for members of the armed forces and the organized militia of the Commonwealth By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 3890) of Steven George Xiarhos relative to amending death and disability compensation for members of the armed forces and the organized militia of the Commonwealth.
  • Veterans and Federal Affairs.
  • Status: Referred to Joint Committee on 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

  1. 2025-10-28 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 10/28/2025 from 01:00 PM-01:10 PM in A-2 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time

  2. 2025-10-17 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 10/28/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act amending death and disability compensation for members of the armed forces and the organized militia of the Commonwealth
By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3890) of Steven George Xiarhos relative to amending death and disability compensation for members of the armed forces and the organized militia of the Commonwealth. Veterans and Federal Affairs.
Status:
Referred to Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
×

Bill H.3890

SECTION 1. Section 88(a) of chapter 33 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the words “ An officer or enlisted person of the Massachusetts organized militia” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “Members of the armed forces of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Massachusetts organized militia”.

SECTION 2. Said section 88 subsection (a) is further amended by striking out the words “a board” in line 4 and inserting in place thereof the words: - “The Death Gratuity Board (the “Board”)”.

SECTION 3. Section 88 subsection (b) is amended by striking it out entirely, and adding in its place:- “Members of the armed forces of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Massachusetts organized militia who, while performing any duty lawfully ordered under this chapter without willful neglect on the part of the person, dies, shall, receive compensation as described by a Board appointed under section 90 for a determination of death gratuity benefits as described in subsection (c). The Board shall consider death or injury arising from present or past qualified duty status on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or United States of America. Qualified Duty Status is defined as State Active Duty and service pursuant to orders under Titles 10 and 32 of the US Code.

SECTION 4. Said section 88 subsection (b) is further amended by striking out the letter “(b)” and inserting in place the letter: “(c)”.

SECTION 5. Said section 88 updated subsection (c) is further amended by striking out the words: - “If the death of a member of the Massachusetts organized militia results from injury, sickness or disease received while in the line of duty, pursuant to orders under titles 10 and 32 of the United States Code or this chapter and the injury, sickness or disease resulting in the death” and inserting in place the words: - “If the death results from injury, sickness, or disease received while in the line of duty, pursuant to orders”.

SECTION 6. Said section 88 subsection (c) is further amended by striking out the letter “(c)” and inserting in place the letter: “(d)”.

SECTION 7. Said section 88 updated subsection (d) is further amended by striking out the letter “(b)” in line 15 and replacing it with the letter: - “(c)”.

SECTION 8. Said section 88 updated subsection (d) is further amended by striking out the words “a member of the Massachusetts organized militia” and inserting the words in place: - “a member of the armed forces of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and / or Massachusetts organized militia”.

SECTION 9. Said section 88 subsection (d) is further amended by striking out the letter “(d)” and replacing it with the letter: - “(e)”.

SECTION 10. Said section 88 subsection (e) is further amended by striking out the letter “(e)” and replacing it with the letter: - “(f)”

SECTION 11. Said section 88 is further amended by adding the following subsection: - “(g) The board will make a recommendation to the adjudicative authority (The Adjutant General)”.

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