Massachusetts H5458: An Act establishing a veterans’ suicide mortality review and prevention council

What the bill says

From the introduced text, May 11, 2026:

SECTION 1. Chapter 6A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 105 the following section:- Section 105A. (a) There is hereby established a veterans’ suicide mortality review and prevention council within the executive office of veterans’ services. The council shall be composed of 15 members to be appointed by the governor, including: 3 representatives of veteran service organizations; mental health clinicians with experience in veteran care; public health or epidemiology experts; law enforcement or first responder representatives; representatives from the executive office of veterans’ services; member from the Massachusetts National Guard or Reserve; and 2 family members of veterans lost to suicide; provided, that not less than 5 of the members of the council shall be veterans, as defined by clause Forty-third of section 7 of chapter 4. Members shall serve staggered 3-year terms and may be reappointed for 1 additional term. (b) The council shall: (i) review all veteran and active-duty military suicide deaths in the commonwealth, including circumstances, prior mental health or medical interventions and service utilization; (ii) identify trends, systemic gaps and risk factors affecting veteran populations; (iii) recommend prevention strategies, including legislation, program development and resource allocation; (iv) maintain confidentiality consistent with state and federal law while conducting case reviews; and (v) publish an annual public report summarizing aggregate findings and actionable …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Joshua Tarsky (D) · primary sponsor

Latest actions

1. July 7, 2026: Hearing scheduled for 07/21/2026 from 12:00 PM-01:00 PM in Written Testimony Only
2. May 26, 2026: Senate concurred
3. May 21, 2026: Reported, referred to the committee on Joint Rules, reported, rules suspended and referred to the committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs
4. May 11, 2026: Referred to the committee on House Rules

Common questions

What is H5458?

H5458 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act establishing a veterans’ suicide mortality review and prevention council.

What is the status of H5458?

In committee as of July 7, 2026. Latest action: Hearing scheduled for 07/21/2026 from 12:00 PM-01:00 PM in Written Testimony Only (July 7, 2026).

Who sponsored H5458?

Joshua Tarsky (D).

Where is the official record for H5458?

On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H5458