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H 3878

Laurens County School District 55

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Doug Gilliam and 2 co-sponsors

Increases the Massachusetts veteran supplement from $2,000 to $5,000 and adds a $5,000 annual, two-installment payment for 80% VA-disabled veterans with PTSD, Gulf War illness, or

Act No. 87
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Bill Summary · H 3878

Summary — H 3878 (Act No. 87): An Act Relative to Veteran Disability Benefits

At a glance

  • Bill number: H 3878
  • Title in bill text: An Act relative to veteran disability benefits
  • Sponsors: Rep. David Allen Robertson (primary); Rep. Steven G. Xiarhos (cosponsor)
  • Enacted: Signed by Governor 05/13/2025 — Act No. 87 (effective 05/13/2025)
  • Committee: Veterans and Federal Affairs

Note: some metadata attached to the file references “Laurens County School District 55” and single‑member district maps; that material appears unrelated to the bill’s text. This summary covers the bill text titled “An Act relative to veteran disability benefits.”

Purpose / Intent

To increase certain Commonwealth supplemental payments for veterans and to create a specified annual payment for veterans with certain service‑connected conditions (PTSD, Persian Gulf illness, or injuries from contaminated Camp Lejeune water) who have an 80% disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Key provisions

  1. Increase of existing statutory payment amounts

    • Amends Section 6B of Chapter 115 of the Massachusetts General Laws by striking each occurrence of “$2,000” in the section and replacing it with “$5,000.” (i.e., increases the enumerated payment amount(s) in that section from $2,000 to $5,000.)

  2. New payment for specified service‑connected conditions

    • Inserts a new paragraph providing that a veteran who:
      • suffers from post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), symptoms of Persian Gulf illness, or injuries connected to tainted/poisoned/adulterated water at Camp Lejeune;
      • has that condition certified by the VA as service‑connected; and
      • has been determined by the VA to be 80% disabled, shall be paid $5,000 annually.
    • Payment timing: the $5,000 is paid in two equal installments on August 1 and February 1.
    • Payments are due and payable from the date of application (i.e., retroactive to application date).

Who is affected

  • Veterans of Massachusetts who currently qualify under Section 6B of Chapter 115 will see the statutory $2,000 figure increased to $5,000 where that figure applies.
  • Specifically eligible are veterans with VA‑certified service‑connected PTSD, Persian Gulf illness symptoms, or Camp Lejeune water‑related injuries who have an 80% VA disability rating — these veterans become eligible for the specified $5,000 annual benefit paid semiannually.

Effective date and procedural history

  • Signed into law by the Governor on May 13, 2025; effective the same date (Act No. 87).
  • Key actions: referred to Veterans and Federal Affairs (02/27/2025); read and passed the House and Senate; enrolled and signed between April–May 2025.

Notes

  • The bill both raises a previously specified $2,000 payment to $5,000 and explicitly establishes a $5,000 annual payment (two equal installments) for certain severely disabled veterans with specific service‑connected conditions.
  • For precise application, benefit interaction, eligibility verification, or fiscal-impact details, consult the final amended text of Section 6B, Chapter 115, and any implementing administrative guidance from the Commonwealth’s veterans’ agencies.

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

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