Senate Advances Legislation Supporting Military Families

Senate Advances Legislation Supporting Military Families 

Ways and Means Committee also advances bill clarifying National Guard chain-of-command 

 

(BOSTON—10/30/2025) The Massachusetts Senate’s Committee on Ways and Means voted today to advance legislation that boosts supports for the families of military servicemembers based in Massachusetts, an action to help drive federal investment in the local economy. 

 

The Senate voted during its session today to schedule both bills for debate on the Senate floor next Thursday, November 6. 

 

An Act to enhance access, inclusion, support and equity for military connected families, S.2676 (a new draft of S.2503), prioritizes the education of children with a parent or guardian in the military and promotes public safety around military installations. The legislation allows children of military families to continue learning in their local school if their parent or guardian is temporarily serving elsewhere, and ensures a smooth transition for military children who receive special education services and are changing school districts. The bill also allows for federal courts to shift some juvenile cases to the state stemming from offenses committed on military bases, and allows the admission of military protective orders as evidence in proceedings for temporary domestic violence restraining orders. The Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs solicited testimony on the bill at a public hearing on June 24, 2025, then gave a favorable report to the legislation on September 11, 2025 following a 5-0 vote. 

 

The Committee on Ways and Means also advanced An Act clarifying the duties of The Adjutant General, S.2675 (a new draft of S.2501), which makes a technical clarification to the National Guard chain-of-command structure to bring Massachusetts’ statutes in line with language used by the vast majority of other states. The legislation makes clear that the Adjutant General, in carrying out the orders of the Governor, has command of all troops in the state National Guard. The bill was the subject of a public hearing by the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs on September 16, 2025. The Committee then advanced the measure on October 2, 2025 after a 6-0 vote. 

 

Both pieces of legislation were originally filed by Senator John C. Velis. 

 

The Committee on Ways and Means voted 16-0 to advance each bill. All committee votes are publicly posted on the Legislature’s website.