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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1813 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 117
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Sal N. DiDomenico
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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:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and SuffolkMichael J. BarrettThird Middlesex2/4/2025John F. KeenanNorfolk and Plymouth2/25/2025 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1813 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 117
By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 117) of Sal N. DiDomenico,
Michael J. Barrett and John F. Keenan for legislation to establish basic needs assistance for
Massachusetts immigrant residents. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 76 OF 2023-2024.]
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 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:
1 Chapter 18 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by inserting after section 39 the following new section:-
3 Section 40. The department of transitional assistance shall, subject to appropriation,
4provide the following basic needs benefits to persons residing in the Commonwealth who are
5lawfully admitted for permanent residence or are otherwise permanently residing in the United
6States under color of law: a) cash assistance and related benefits to children, pregnant women
7and caretaker adults who meet the eligibility requirements of Chapter 118 of the General Laws
8except for the program requirements related to immigration status or citizenship, and b)
9nutritional assistance benefits to persons who meet the eligibility requirements of the
10Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program except for the program requirements related to 2 of 2
11immigration status or citizenship. The basic needs benefits authorized under this section shall be
12provided at the same level and subject to the same requirements as benefits provided under
13Chapter 118 or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, with the exception of the
14immigration status or citizenship requirements of those programs.