Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H3648 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3313 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3648
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Michael S. Day and Richard M. Haggerty
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act relative to veteran license plates.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Michael S. Day31st Middlesex1/17/2025Richard M. Haggerty30th Middlesex1/17/2025 1 of 5
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3313 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3648
18	18	By Representatives Day of Stoneham and Haggerty of Woburn, a petition (accompanied by bill,
19	19	House, No. 3648) of Michael S. Day and Richard M. Haggerty relative to veteran license plates.
20	20	Transportation.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
24	24	(2025-2026)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act relative to veteran license plates.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 SECTION 1. Section 2 of chapter 90 of the Generals Laws, as appearing in the 2022
30	30	2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after line 551, the following new paragraph:-
31	31	3 The registrar shall furnish, upon application, to owners of private passenger motor
32	32	4vehicles and motorcycles who are veterans, as defined in clause Forty-third of section 7 of
33	33	5chapter 4 and upon presentation of evidence deemed satisfactory by the registrar, distinctive
34	34	6registration plates bearing on the left side the word "VETERAN''. The registrar shall waive the
35	35	7initial registration fee of $60 and for each subsequent renewal.
36	36	8 SECTION 2. Said section 2 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further
37	37	9amended by striking out the twelfth paragraph, as so appearing.
38	38	10 SECTION 3. Said section 2 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further
39	39	11amended by striking out the fifteenth through seventeenth paragraphs, inclusive, and nineteenth
40	40	12through twenty-second paragraphs, inclusive. 2 of 5
41	41	13 SECTION 4. Chapter 90 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further
42	42	14amended by inserting after section 2I the following section:-
43	43	15 Section 2J. (a) The registrar shall design and maintain a series of distinct and
44	44	16individual license plates recognizing those who have served in the military and for those who
45	45	17deserve special recognition relating to or deriving from military service.
46	46	18 (b) Any veteran meeting the definition of a veteran in clause forty-third of section
47	47	197 of chapter 4 or section 1 of chapter 115, or who is eligible for the annuity provided under
48	48	20section 6C of chapter 115, shall be eligible and entitled to a veteran plate which shall carry the
49	49	21denotation “VETERAN”, upon presentation of satisfactory evidence of such status as determined
50	50	22by the registrar.
51	51	23 (c) The series of distinct and individual license plates recognizing those who
52	52	24have served in the military and for those who deserve special recognition relating to or deriving
53	53	25from military service shall include the license plates described in the following paragraphs:
54	54	26 (1) Veterans ranked as at least 60 per cent disabled by the United States
55	55	27Department of Veterans Affairs, including those who have suffered the loss of a limb, permanent
56	56	28visual acuity loss of 20/200 in an eye, or are otherwise determined to be disabled or handicapped
57	57	29by the medical advisory board established in section 8C, shall be entitled to a distinctive disabled
58	58	30veteran plate.
59	59	31 (2) Veterans who have been captured and incarcerated by foreign forces in
60	60	32conflict or held as prisoners of war shall be entitled to a distinctive plate recognizing that status. 3 of 5
61	61	33 (3) Veterans who are members of the Legion of Valor of the United States of
62	62	34America, Incorporated shall be entitled to a distinctive plate recognizing that status.
63	63	35 (4) Veterans awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor shall be entitled to a
64	64	36distinctive plate recognizing that status, including, subject to availability, the use of the initials of
65	65	37the award recipient followed by CMH signifying their award.
66	66	38 (5) Veterans awarded the Order of the Purple Heart shall be entitled to a
67	67	39distinctive plate indicating that status which shall include the words “COMBAT WOUNDED.”
68	68	40 (6) Survivors of the attack upon Pearl Harbor shall be entitled to a distinctive
69	69	41plate reflecting that status and bearing the word “VETERAN” thereupon.
70	70	42 (7) Residents of the commonwealth serving in any branch of the national guard
71	71	43shall be entitled to a distinctive plate reflecting that status.
72	72	44 (8) Residents of the commonwealth awarded the Medal of Liberty under section
73	73	4567A of chapter 33 shall be entitled to a distinctive plate reflecting that status.
74	74	46 (9) The next of kin of a member of the armed forces, in possession of a Gold Star
75	75	47Lapel Button under the regulations of the United States Secretary of Defense, shall be entitled to
76	76	48a Gold Star Family distinctive plate. Said button shall not be an eligibility requirement for those
77	77	49who have presented other satisfactory evidence of their status, as determined by the registrar.
78	78	50 (d) A veteran who has served in the armed forces and is entitled to a veteran
79	79	51license plate shall also be entitled to the issuance of a decal or emblem denoting their branch of
80	80	52service. Residents of the commonwealth identifying as a woman veteran who served in any 4 of 5
81	81	53branch shall be entitled to a distinctive decal which the registry of motor vehicles shall design
82	82	54and issue.
83	83	55 (e) The following individuals shall be entitled to a distinctive plate, emblem or
84	84	56decal denoting their award status:
85	85	57 (1) Owners of private vehicles awarded 1 of the following decorations for valor or
86	86	58gallantry: the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Distinguish
87	87	59Service Cross, the Navy Cross, the Air Force Cross, or any other similar award designated by the
88	88	60secretary of veterans’ services.
89	89	61 (2) A resident of the commonwealth qualifying as a Gold Star parent, child,
90	90	62sibling, grandchild or spouse. A distinctive plate, under this paragraph, may not be used in
91	91	63conjunction with a motor vehicle that has promotional or advertising material thereupon.
92	92	64 (f) Veterans entitled to a distinctive plate shall be entitled to have a distinctive
93	93	65emblem or decal reflecting service in Operation Enduring Freedom or the receipt of the Iraqi
94	94	66Freedom Campaign Ribbon, an Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon, a Persian Gulf Campaign
95	95	67Ribbon, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Inherent
96	96	68Resolve Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam
97	97	69Service Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, or the Prisoner of War Medal.
98	98	70 (g) Under any special recognition or status recognized in this section, a widowed
99	99	71person shall not be compelled to surrender their distinctive plate, emblem or decal unless they
100	100	72remarry, cancel or fail to renew registration. If the deceased person was entitled to recognition
101	101	73under any portion of this section but did not apply for special status under this section, a
102	102	74widowed person may nonetheless apply in the stead of their deceased spouse. 5 of 5
103	103	75 (h) Any special status under this section shall entitle the bearer to only 1 special
104	104	76plate, emblem or decal; provided, however, that such person may, at their option, have the
105	105	77distinctive plate, emblem or decal issued in a form suitable for use on a motorcycle rather than a
106	106	78passenger car.
107	107	79 (i) Any plate to which an individual is entitled under this section shall be issued
108	108	80without fee for private passenger motor vehicles and motorcycles. The registrar may provide
109	109	81individuals the option of paying an additional fee. Any funds related to the additional fee
110	110	82generated under this section shall be distributed to the state operated veterans’ homes on an equal
111	111	83basis, to their special account, up to $500,000 for each home. Any excess fee over $500,000 for
112	112	84each state-operated veterans’ home shall be placed in the special trust fund subject to the control
113	113	85of the secretary of veterans’ services.