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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1818 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 118
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
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 lifting kids out of deep poverty.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and SuffolkCarmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex1/22/2025Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/29/2025Mark C. MontignySecond Bristol and Plymouth1/29/2025Michael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk1/30/2025Michael J. BarrettThird Middlesex2/4/2025Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex2/4/2025Paul W. MarkBerkshire, Hampden, Franklin and
Hampshire
2/11/2025Cindy F. FriedmanFourth Middlesex2/11/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/11/2025Michael F. RushNorfolk and Suffolk2/11/2025Julian CyrCape and Islands2/18/2025Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/18/2025Patricia D. JehlenSecond Middlesex2/19/2025Adam GomezHampden2/20/2025John F. KeenanNorfolk and Plymouth2/21/2025Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex2/25/2025 2 of 2
Brendan P. CrightonThird Essex3/3/2025Robyn K. KennedyFirst Worcester3/5/2025Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester3/6/2025 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1818 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 118
By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 118) of Sal N. DiDomenico,
Carmine Lawrence Gentile, Joanne M. Comerford, Mark C. Montigny and other members of the
General Court for legislation to lift kids out of deep poverty. Children, Families and Persons
with Disabilities.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 75 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 lifting kids out of deep poverty.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 2 of chapter 118 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the fourth paragraph and inserting in place
3thereof the following new paragraph:- "Notwithstanding any general or special law to the
4contrary, the payment standards for monthly benefits for the program not including the rental
5allowance shall be increased effective July first of each year beginning with July 1, 2025 by 20
6percent above the payment standard in effect in the previous fiscal year until the payment
7standard for the household size equals 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the household
8size; provided further, that once the payment standard for the household size equals 50 percent of
9the federal poverty level for the household size, the payment standard shall be increased effective
10July first of each year in order that the payment standard shall be no less than 50% of the poverty 2 of 2
11level for the household size as determined by the federal Department of Health and Human
12Services; provided further, that the need standard and the payment amounts shall be further
13increased by the amount of a clothing allowance in the month for which it is paid and by the
14rental allowance for households incurring a rent or mortgage expense and not residing in public
15or subsidized housing."
16 SECTION 2. Section 1 of chapter 117A of the General Laws is hereby amended by
17inserting after the first paragraph the following new paragraph:- "Notwithstanding any general or
18special law to the contrary, the payment standards for monthly benefits for the program shall be
19increased effective July first of each year beginning with July 1, 2025 by 20 percent above the
20payment standard in effect in the previous fiscal year until the payment standard for the
21household size equals 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the household size; provided
22further, that once the payment standard for the household size equals 50 percent of the federal
23poverty level for the household size, the payment standard shall be increased effective July first
24of each year in order that the payment standard shall be no less than 50 percent of the poverty
25level for the household size as determined by the federal Department of Health and Human
26Services".