Bill
H 3832
Mass. bill defines 'Gold Star parent' and 'Gold Star spouse' in law, giving agencies a clear, uniform standard for eligibility and program references; no new benefits created.
Note on source material
- The submitted file appears to combine two different legislative texts: (A) a Massachusetts House bill titled “An Act defining ‘Gold Star families’” (House No. 3832 / House Docket 2808) and (B) text of one or more South Carolina bills amending film/theater tax incentive statutes. The primary designation you provided (H 3832) and the sponsors listed correspond to the Massachusetts measure. This summary treats the Massachusetts Gold Star definitions as the core bill and then briefly summarizes the appended South Carolina film-incentive material, which appears to be unrelated and may have been appended in error.
Purpose and intent
- To add clear statutory definitions for “Gold Star parent” and “Gold Star spouse” in the General Laws so agencies and programs that reference Gold Star status have an explicit, uniform meaning.
Key provision
- Amends Section 7 of Chapter 4 (definitions) by inserting two definitions:
- “Gold Star parent”: any parent of a member of the armed forces whose death occurred as a result of injury sustained, illness, or disease contracted — not due to gross negligence or misconduct of the member — during active service.
- “Gold Star spouse”: any spouse of a member of the armed forces whose death occurred as a result of injury sustained, illness, or disease contracted — not due to gross negligence or misconduct of the member — during active service.
Who is affected
- Bereaved parents and spouses of service members killed (as defined) during active service.
- State agencies, boards, programs, and benefit eligibility rules that use or reference the term “Gold Star” (e.g., Veterans Affairs, commemorative programs, benefit or priority programs) — they will rely on the new statutory definition for administration and eligibility determinations.
Procedural status and timeline (as presented)
- Sponsors: Rep. Michael S. Chaisson and Sen. Sal N. DiDomenico (plus several members later added).
- Introduced/read first time Jan–Feb 2025; referred to the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs (02/27/2025).
- Senate concurred; subsequent House debate was adjourned (multiple dates), with the most recent entry showing debate adjourned until Tues., 01‑13‑2026.
Potential impact
- Clarifies who qualifies as a Gold Star parent or spouse under Massachusetts law, reducing ambiguity and helping ensure consistent application of benefits, honors, and administrative processes that use the term.
- Does not itself create benefits or funding; rather, it provides definitional authority for existing or future programs.
(Brief summary — appears to be text from South Carolina bills on film/theater incentives)
- Proposes amendments to S.C. Code:
- Increase annual rebate cap for motion picture production payroll rebates from $10 million to $30 million (carryforward of unused rebates for 3 years).
- Allow an additional rebate of up to 30% of non-payroll in‑state expenditures for productions with at least $1 million in‑state spending.
- Permit portions of rebate allotment to fund the SC Film Commission operations and educational collaborations.
- Repeal an existing section on admissions-tax distribution (12‑62‑60).
- Add a new tax credit (30%) for “accredited theater productions” (pre- or post‑Broadway productions in qualified facilities), with detailed definitions, first‑come/first‑served allocation, and reporting requirements.
- Affects film/theater producers, the South Carolina Film Commission, qualified theaters, and the state budget (potential increase in tax expenditures).
If you want, I can:
- Prepare a focused one‑page brief solely on the Massachusetts “Gold Star” definitions (including likely administrative consequences), or
- Produce a separate, full summary and fiscal impact outline of the South Carolina film/theater incentive proposals.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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