SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1250        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Edward J. Kennedy

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act concerning food insecurity and supporting the restaurant industry.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1250        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 98 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

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

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An Act concerning food insecurity and supporting the restaurant industry.

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

Chapter 18 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after Section 39 the following section:-

Section 40. SNAP Restaurant Meals Program.

(a) The Department of Transitional Assistance shall establish a Restaurant Meals Program as part of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Under the Restaurant Meals Program, households containing elderly or disabled members, and their spouses, as defined in 7 U.S.C. 2012(j), or homeless individuals, as defined in 7 U.S.C. 2012(l), shall have the option in accordance with 7 U.S.C. 2012(k) to redeem their SNAP benefits at private establishments that contract with the Department to offer meals for eligible individuals at concessional prices subject to 7 U.S.C. 2018(h).

(b) The Department of Transitional Assistance shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.