An Act to lift kids out of deep poverty
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 1/12/2026 | House | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means |
| 1/12/2026 | House | Accompanied by H207↗, H254↗ and H281↗ |
| 9/5/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 09/16/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2 |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities |
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J13 | Favorable | 1 entries |
Section 2 of chapter 118 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the fourth paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-- Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the payment standards for monthly benefits for the program not including the rental allowance shall be increased effective July first of each year beginning with July 1, 2025 by 20 percent above the payment standard in effect in the previous fiscal year until the payment standard for the household size equals 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the household size; provided further, that once the payment standard for the household size equals 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the household size, the payment standard shall be increased effective July first of each year in order that the payment standard shall be no less than 50 percent of the poverty level for the household size as determined by the federal Department of Health and Human Services; provided further, that the need standard and the payment amounts shall be further increased by the amount of a clothing allowance in the month for which it is paid and by the rental allowance for households incurring a rent or mortgage expense and not residing in public or subsidized housing.
Section 1 of chapter 117A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following new paragraph:- Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the payment standards for monthly benefits for the program shall be increased effective July first of each year beginning with July 1, 2025 by 20 percent above the payment standard in effect in the previous fiscal year until the payment standard for the household size equals 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the household size; provided further, that once the payment standard for the household size equals 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the household size, the payment standard shall be increased effective July first of each year in order that the payment standard shall be no less than 50 percent of the poverty level for the household size as determined by the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
SECTION 1. Section 2 of chapter 118 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the fourth paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-- Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the payment standards for monthly benefits for the program not including the rental allowance shall be increased effective July first of each year beginning with July 1, 2025 by 20 percent above the payment standard in effect in the previous fiscal year until the payment standard for the household size equals 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the household size; provided further, that once the payment standard for the household size equals 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the household size, the payment standard shall be increased effective July first of each year in order that the payment standard shall be no less than 50 percent of the poverty level for the household size as determined by the federal Department of Health and Human Services; provided further, that the need standard and the payment amounts shall be further increased by the amount of a clothing allowance in the month for which it is paid and by the rental allowance for households incurring a rent or mortgage expense and not residing in public or subsidized housing. SECTION 2. Section 1 of chapter 117A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following new paragraph:- Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the payment standards for monthly benefits for the program shall be increased effective July first of each year beginning with July 1, 2025 by 20 percent above the payment standard in effect in the previous fiscal year until the payment standard for the household size equals 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the household size; provided further, that once the payment standard for the household size equals 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the household size, the payment standard shall be increased effective July first of each year in order that the payment standard shall be no less than 50 percent of the poverty level for the household size as determined by the federal Department of Health and Human Services.