SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1813        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

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

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Sal N. DiDomenico

_________________

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 establishing basic needs assistance for Massachusetts immigrant residents.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1813        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

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

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 76 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

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

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An Act establishing basic needs assistance for Massachusetts immigrant residents.

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. Chapter 18 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 39 the following new section:-

Section 40: The department of transitional assistance shall, subject to appropriation, provide the following basic needs benefits to persons residing in the Commonwealth who are lawfully admitted for permanent residence or are otherwise permanently residing in the United States under color of law: a) cash assistance and related benefits to children, pregnant women and caretaker adults who meet the eligibility requirements of Chapter 118 of the General Laws except for the program requirements related to immigration status or citizenship, and b) nutritional assistance benefits to persons who meet the eligibility requirements of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program except for the program requirements related to immigration status or citizenship. The basic needs benefits authorized under this section shall be provided at the same level and subject to the same requirements as benefits provided under Chapter 118 or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, with the exception of the immigration status or citizenship requirements of those programs.