Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S975 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1185 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 975
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Kelly A. Dooner
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act establishing residency requirements for emergency housing assistance.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Kelly A. DoonerThird Bristol and Plymouth 1 of 2
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1185 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 975
18	18	By Ms. Dooner, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 975) of Kelly A. Dooner for
19	19	legislation to establish residency requirements for emergency housing assistance. Housing.
20	20	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
21	21	_______________
22	22	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
23	23	(2025-2026)
24	24	_______________
25	25	An Act establishing residency requirements for emergency housing assistance.
26	26	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
27	27	of the same, as follows:
28	28	1 Section 30 of Chapter 23B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official
29	29	2Edition, is hereby amended by inserting the following paragraph after the first paragraph:-
30	30	3 (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule, or regulation to the contrary,
31	31	4eligibility for the emergency housing assistance program shall be limited to (1) United States
32	32	5citizens and (2) lawfully present immigrants who have maintained continuous legal residency in
33	33	6the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the
34	34	7date of application.
35	35	8 (b) Acceptable proof of legal residency must consist of the following two forms of
36	36	9documentation, both issued at least 12 months before the application date:
37	37	10 Proof of U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residency: (1) A valid U.S. Passport with
38	38	11a Massachusetts address; (2) A certified U.S. Birth Certificate with proof of Massachusetts 2 of 2
39	39	12residency; (3) A valid Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship; (4) A valid Green Card
40	40	13(Permanent Resident Card) issued at least one year prior.
41	41	14 Proof of Continuous Residency in Massachusetts: (1) Filed Massachusetts state income
42	42	15tax return for the most recent tax year r; (2) Valid REAL ID-compliant Massachusetts driver’s
43	43	16license issued at least one year prior; (3) Utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement in the
44	44	17applicant's name, dated at least one year prior; Or (4) pay stubs showing continuous
45	45	18Massachusetts employment for at least one year.
46	46	19 (d) All submitted documentation shall be subject to verification by the Executive Office
47	47	20of Housing and Livable Communities in coordination with the Department of Revenue and the
48	48	21Registry of Motor Vehicles. Any attempt to submit fraudulent documents will result in
49	49	22permanent disqualification from the program.
50	50	23 (f) The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities shall promulgate
51	51	24regulations to enforce this residency requirement, including procedures for cross-agency
52	52	25verification and fraud detection.