Love Lives On Act of 2025

Senate Bill

S. 410

119th Congress

Love Lives On Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 5, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Joshua Hawley

Senator

Republican

MO

Cosponsors

51

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Summary

The Love Lives On Act extends benefits for surviving military spouses who remarry. It ensures remarriage does not bar dependency and indemnity compensation, special pension benefits, or Survivor Benefit Plan annuities. It also expands TRICARE eligibility to include remarried widows and widowers whose subsequent marriages ended through death, divorce, or annulment.

Latest Action

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

The Love Lives On Act extends benefits for surviving military spouses who remarry. It ensures remarriage does not bar dependency and indemnity compensation, special pension benefits, or Survivor Benefit Plan annuities. It also expands TRICARE eligibility to include remarried widows and widowers whose subsequent marriages ended through death, divorce, or annulment.

Last updated: 12/30/2025

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Love Lives On Act of 2025This bill extends entitlement for various benefit programs and services for surviving spouses of deceased members of the Armed Forces or veterans.The bill provides that the remarriage of a surviving spouse must not bar the furnishing of dependency and indemnity compensation or special pension benefits to such spouse.Additionally, the Department of Defense may not terminate the payment of an annuity for a surviving spouse under the Survivor Benefit Plan solely because the surviving spouse remarries.The bill also expands the definition of a dependent under TRICARE to include a remarried widow or widower whose subsequent marriage has ended due to death, divorce, or annulment.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Preserves benefits for remarried military surviving spouses
Dependency and indemnity compensation continues after remarriage
Survivor Benefit Plan annuities not terminated by remarriage
Expands TRICARE to widows whose remarriage ended
Removes penalty for finding new love after loss
Supports military families long-term

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Current law penalizes military surviving spouses who remarry by terminating certain benefits, creating a financial disincentive to seek new relationships. This bill recognizes that finding love again should not mean losing the benefits earned through a spouse military service and sacrifice. The TRICARE expansion particularly helps those whose second marriages did not last, restoring healthcare coverage that was lost upon remarriage.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Subjects

Marriage and family status

Military personnel and dependents

Veterans' pensions and compensation

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

410, 119th Congress (2025). "Love Lives On Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-410