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HD 3566

An Act relative to veterans benefits

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Colleen Garry

Mass. bill shields increases in Chapter 115 veterans benefits from being counted in public housing or other public-assistance calculations, preserving full benefit boosts.

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Bill Summary · HD 3566

Summary: An Act relative to veterans benefits (House Docket No. 3566)

Overview

  • Bill number: HD 3566 (House Docket No. 3566), presented as an act related to veterans benefits.
  • Primary sponsor: Representative Colleen M. Garry (Dracut, 36th Middlesex).
  • Session and status: Filed in early 2025 for the 2025-2026 Legislature; introduced as a proposed bill. A related matter was previously filed in the 2023-2024 session (House No. 3501).
  • Purpose: Prevent increases in veterans’ benefits from being used to reduce or affect eligibility or benefit levels for public housing or other public assistance programs.

What the bill would do

  • Core change: Amend Section 5 of Chapter 115 (Massachusetts veterans benefits statute) by adding a provision at the end that shields increases in veterans’ benefits from being counted in calculations for public housing or other public assistance programs.
  • Specific provision (proposed language):
    • “Any increase in existing benefits provided to the veteran under this section shall not be included in any calculation for public housing or any other public assistance program.”

Key provisions and changes

  • Scope: Applies to increases in existing benefits provided under Chapter 115 to veterans.
  • Effect on calculations: The added language directs that such increases are excluded from any calculations used to determine eligibility, level, or other determinations for public housing and other public assistance programs.
  • Relationship to public programs: Covers “public housing or any other public assistance program” within the scope of calculations that affect veterans’ benefits overlaps.

Affected parties and programs

  • Beneficiaries: Veterans who receive benefits under Massachusetts Chapter 115.
  • Programs potentially affected: Public housing programs and other public assistance programs that use income or benefits calculations to determine eligibility or benefit amounts.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Filing details: Filed January 17, 2025; House No. 3841; presented by Rep. Garry.
  • Legislative path: As a proposed bill, it would need passage by both the Massachusetts House and Senate and signature by the Governor to become law. The current status in available material is that it is introduced (no final status indicated).
  • Context: The bill represents a continuation of related efforts (as seen by a prior similar filing in 2023-2024).

Context and potential impact

  • Rationale: By isolating increases in veterans’ benefits from public housing/assistance calculations, the bill seeks to ensure that veterans receive full benefit increases without inadvertent offsetting reductions due to program means-testing.
  • Fiscal/operational impact: Likely minimal administrative changes beyond updating the calculation rules; could preserve greater benefit stability for veterans receiving multiple forms of assistance.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to the 2023-2024 version (H.3501) or provide a short glossary of the key terms (e.g., Chapter 115, public housing, public assistance) for readers unfamiliar with Massachusetts welfare and veterans programs.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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