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S 1910

Requires the filing of additional transferor and contributor identification information in campaign receipt and expenditure statements

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rachel May and 1 co-sponsor

Provides Commonwealth and US flags at memorials for next of kin of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty, with the Commonwealth funding the flags.

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Bill Summary · S 1910

Summary — S.1910 (Massachusetts): Flags for Next of Kin of Fallen Police Officers and Firefighters

Short title

The bill text inserts section 89F into Chapter 32 of the Massachusetts General Laws. Its operative provision provides that the Commonwealth and United States flags be presented to the next of kin of certain fallen public safety personnel. (The bill file also contains a different short title line — “Real Education and Access for Healthy Youth Act of 2025” — but the enacted text shown concerns flags for next of kin.)

Purpose

To ensure that the next of kin of a sworn police officer or firefighter who is killed in the line of duty (or who dies as a proximate result of a duty‑related hazard) receives a Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag and a United States flag at the memorial service, with the Commonwealth bearing the cost.

Key provisions

  • Adds new Section 89F to Chapter 32, General Laws.
  • Eligibility: Applies to
    • sworn police officers of city or town police departments,
    • sworn police officers of the Department of State Police,
    • firefighters of city or town fire departments, who are killed, die from injuries received, or die as a natural or proximate result of undergoing a hazard peculiar to their employment while performing their duties.
  • Benefit: The next of kin shall receive one Commonwealth (Massachusetts) flag and one United States flag during the memorial service.
  • Funding: The Commonwealth shall bear the cost of the flags.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: the next of kin (survivors) of qualifying police officers and firefighters.
  • Entities affected: the Commonwealth (responsible for cost), local police and fire departments (may coordinate delivery/presentation at memorial services).

Fiscal impact

  • Direct but limited: the Commonwealth will incur the cost of supplying two flags per qualifying case. The bill does not specify appropriation amounts; fiscal effect depends on the number of eligible deaths and flag procurement costs (likely modest).

Legislative status & timeline (as provided)

  • Filed: 01/07/2025 (Senate Docket No. 56 / Senate No. 1910)
  • Referred to various committees (Public Service; Elections listed in docket).
  • Hearing scheduled: 05/07/2025.
  • Read/Introduced in Senate: 05/22/2025.
  • Advanced to third reading: 05/08/2025.
  • Reported favorably by committee and referred to Senate Ways & Means: 10/02/2025.
  • Committed to Rules: 06/13/2025 (appears twice in the record).

Sponsors & related measures

  • Petition/presenters: State Senator Bruce E. Tarr and several other state lawmakers (listed in the bill petition).
  • The metadata supplied contains an inconsistent sponsors list (including several U.S. Senators) and multiple related bill numbers across sessions; these appear to mix content from different measures. Closest related/companion measures listed: A.3092, H.R.3527, SD 56 and prior-session S-numbers.

Note: The bill text is narrowly focused on ceremonial provision of flags and a Commonwealth-funded payment for those flags; it does not change survivor benefits, pensions, or other compensation.

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

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