Bill
H 3811
Creates free “Blue Star Family” license plate for immediate family of police officers killed in the line of duty, with up to 6 characters, upon proof of eligibility.
Bill purpose
H.3811 creates a no‑charge distinctive motor vehicle registration plate and a motorcycle emblem that read “Blue Star Family” for certain immediate family members of police officers who were killed in the line of duty. Its intent is to provide a visible, permanent recognition for surviving family members.
Key provisions
- Amends Section 2 of Chapter 90 of the Massachusetts General Laws by adding a new paragraph directing the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to:
- Furnish, without charge, a distinctive registration plate reading “Blue Star Family” for one private passenger motor vehicle owned and principally used by an eligible person.
- Furnish, without charge, a distinctive “Blue Star Family” emblem to be affixed to a registration plate for a motorcycle privately owned and principally used by an eligible person.
- Allow issuance of a distinctive registration of up to 6 characters for that one private passenger vehicle (i.e., limited personalization).
- Eligibility: owner must be the parent, child, sibling, or spouse of a police officer (municipal police, Department of State Police, university police, or MBTA police) who was killed in the line of duty.
- Definition of “killed in the line of duty”: circumstances that would make the officer eligible to be listed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
- Requires presentation of “satisfactory evidence” to the Registrar to receive the plate or emblem.
Who is affected
- Directly affects surviving immediate family members (parent, child, sibling, spouse) of qualifying Massachusetts police officers killed in the line of duty.
- Affects the Registry of Motor Vehicles (administration, issuance, and production of plates/emblems).
- Indirectly affects manufacturers/suppliers of specialty plates and possibly municipal/state budgets if there are production or administrative costs (the plates/emblems are provided without charge to recipients).
Procedural status & timeline
- Filed: 1/15/2025 (House Docket No. 1771).
- Introduced/read first time: 1/28/2025.
- Referred to: Committee on Ways and Means (1/28/2025); also recorded as referred to Transportation (2/27/2025).
- Hearing scheduled: 10/07/2025, 11:00 AM–1:00 PM in A‑1.
- Sponsor/lead petitioner: Rep. Thomas P. Walsh; multiple co‑petitioners listed.
- Note: the bill notes similar matter in prior session (House No. 3473 of 2023–2024).
Important note: the supplied document also contains unrelated South Carolina draft statutory text about an education tax credit — that text is not part of Massachusetts H.3811 and appears to be included in error. This summary reflects only the Massachusetts H.3811 specialty plate proposal.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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