Designates restaurants as qualified businesses for the purposes of the commercial security tax credit program

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jake Ashby

The bill requires regulations so that Chapter 115 veterans with income under 300% FPL receive a Medical Only budget for medical costs.

REFERRED TO CODES

Summary — S.2489 (Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 194th General Court, 2025–2026)

Title: An Act relative to veteran health care
Senate Docket No.: 596 / Senate No. 2489
Filed: January 14, 2025
Primary sponsors (per bill cover): Michael F. Rush; co-petitioners Paul McMurtry and Steven George Xiarhos
Status notes: Referred to committee(s) (see "Procedural notes" below)

Note on metadata: some of the supplied metadata (alternate titles, sponsor lists, and committee referrals/dates) appear inconsistent with the bill text and docket. The summary below is based on the statutory text included in the filing (Senate No. 2489) — readers should verify current status and official sponsors on the Massachusetts Legislature website.

Purpose / Intent

The bill directs the Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans’ Services to adopt regulations ensuring that applicants or recipients of Chapter 115 veterans’ benefits who have incomes below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and who are otherwise qualified are eligible to receive a “Medical Only” budget. The intent is to guarantee medical-cost-focused assistance for low‑income veterans under the Chapter 115 framework.

Key Provisions

Amends Chapter 115, Section 5 of the Massachusetts General Laws by adding a new paragraph after paragraph 7.

Requires the Secretary of Veterans’ Services to promulgate regulations that:

Ensure any applicant or recipient determined to be under 300% of the current FPL, and otherwise qualified under Chapter 115, shall be eligible for a “Medical Only” budget.

The bill does not specify the mechanics, amounts, or administrative forms for the Medical Only budget; those details are delegated to the Secretary’s regulations.

Who is Affected

Primary beneficiaries: veterans (and dependents where applicable) who apply for or receive Chapter 115 assistance and whose income is under 300% of the Federal Poverty Level.

Administrative actor: Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services (Secretary) — responsible for drafting and adopting implementing regulations and administering the Medical Only budgets.

Potentially affected: state fiscal planners, local veterans’ service officers, and health care providers interacting with Chapter 115 recipients.

Potential Impact

Expands or clarifies eligibility for medical-cost-only assistance under Chapter 115 for veterans at or below a 300% FPL threshold.

May increase demand for state-administered medical assistance under Chapter 115 and require administrative rulemaking and possibly budgetary adjustments; the bill does not include a fiscal note or appropriation.

The scope and fiscal impact depend on the content of the regulations the Secretary will promulgate.

Procedural / Timeline Notes

Filed January 14, 2025 (Senate Docket No. 596 / Senate No. 2489).

Legislative actions in the provided data are inconsistent (references to multiple committees and dates). The bill text indicates it pertains to veterans’ services; typical next steps would include committee referral (Veterans & Federal Affairs or relevant codes committee), public hearing, and committee report before floor action.

Recommendation: consult the Massachusetts Legislature’s official website or committee docket for up-to-date status, hearing schedules, and any amendments.