HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4911

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 12, 2026.

 The committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, to whom were referred the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 220) of Mindy Domb and Simon Cataldo for legislation to establish a diaper insufficiency fund; the petition (accompanied by resolve, House, No. 221) of Mindy Domb and Simon Cataldo for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to an annual allowance to be used to purchase diapers for recipients of the Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) program; and the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 295) of Steven George Xiarhos relative to Department of Transitional Assistance benefits for diapers, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 4911) ought to pass.

For the committee,

JAY D. LIVINGSTONE.

        FILED ON: 12/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4911

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to a diaper allowance to meet early childhood needs.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

 SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 117A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the last paragraph, the following paragraph:-

 Effective September 1st annually, the department shall issue a one-time diaper allowance to eligible recipients for each dependent child under the age of 3, as defined in section 1 of chapter 118 as appearing, subject to appropriation. Supplemental payment per child shall be issued at a later date. The allowance shall be in an amount to be determined in accordance with the amounts available to the department for expenditure under this chapter.

 SECTION 2. Section 2 of chapter 118 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the last paragraph, the following paragraph:-

 Effective September 1st annually, the department shall issue a one-time diaper allowance to eligible recipients for each dependent child under the age of 3, as defined in section 1 of chapter 118 as appearing, subject to appropriation. Supplemental payment per child shall be issued at a later date. The allowance shall be in an amount to be determined in accordance with the amounts available to the department for expenditure under this chapter.

 SECTION 3. The department of transitional assistance shall promulgate regulations no later than 6 months after the passage of this act.