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Read. Follow. Verify.Massachusetts updates the legal definition of veteran to include specific reserve service and national guard criteria
Last action · January 22, 2026: Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and MeansSponsors: Kelly Pease and 6 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Massachusetts bill H.3871 redefines the legal term 'veteran' to include individuals with specific , national guard, reserve, and merchant marine service history under conditions other than dishonorable. The legislation outlines explicit criteria for active duty, armed forces, and while detailing disqualifying conditions such as desertion or dishonorable discharge.
The measure directly determines state-level eligibility for veteran status and associated benefits by establishing updated service requirements for reservists, national guard members, and merchant marine personnel in Massachusetts.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
military veterans
State-level legal status and associated criteria for veteran recognition are redefined.
reserve and national guard members
Service duration requirements and duty conditions under Titles 10 and 32 are explicitly integrated into qualification criteria.
American Merchant Marine members
Specific World War II conflict service dates are established for qualifying personnel.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies as a veteran under the updated Massachusetts definition?
Are members of the reserve component automatically considered veterans?
Who is explicitly disqualified from being deemed a veteran under this bill?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
5 actions- Jan 22, 2026HouseCommitteeBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
- Sep 30, 2025JointHearing rescheduled to 09/30/2025 from 01:00 PM-02:50 PM in A-1 and Virtual<br> <span style="color: blue; font-style: italic;">Hearing updated to New End Time</span>
- Sep 19, 2025JointHearing scheduled for 09/30/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
- Feb 27, 2025SenateSenate concurred
- Feb 27, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to the committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expanded Reserve and Guard Qualification
The measure incorporates explicit service thresholds for reserve components and updates the statutory framework governing state veteran classifications.
Connected Entities
Sources
malegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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