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MassachusettsH 58194th General Court (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

An Act making appropriations for fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Bills in the Third Reading

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 3 mixed.

Emergency shelter gets $425 million boost

The law provides $425 million from the Transitional Escrow Fund for safe shelter and services for unhoused families. Money is available through June 30, 2026. The finance secretary can move funds to state agencies and to the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund. Families may use temporary respite sites for up to 30 days on arrival. Normal public-funds rules and existing reporting apply.

Shelter capacity capped at 4,000 families

From December 31, 2025 through December 31, 2026, the emergency shelter system can serve at most 4,000 families statewide. When the cap is reached, new families can face a waitlist or go without shelter.

Tighter income and residency rules for shelter

Families become ineligible if monthly income is over 200% of the federal poverty level for three months in a row. Benefits are limited to families made up only of Massachusetts residents who are U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or permanently residing under color of law. A family can still qualify if a child is a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or permanently residing under color of law.

Background checks and stricter verification for shelter

All adult applicants must disclose any non-sealed convictions, and the agency gets criminal record info before placement. Failure to disclose or to complete these checks makes the adult ineligible and can end household benefits. Before placement, the agency verifies identity, Massachusetts residency, household relationships, pregnancy, and intent to remain, using documents like MassHealth records, public-benefit papers, a bill with a Massachusetts address, a licensed health‑worker letter, or a Massachusetts photo ID. Any adult who joins a family must report and pass full verification, or the household loses aid. The office can deny shelter for missing documents, but it may grant case-by-case waivers for urgent situations like imminent domestic violence, a child under six, a documented disability, or certain veterans not in veteran services.

Six-month shelter limit with hardship extensions

Families with children or a pregnant woman can get emergency shelter for up to six consecutive months. The secretary must extend time when a household shows hardship, including if it includes a qualified veteran not in veteran services, a child under six, an imminent domestic-violence risk, or a documented disability. The agency must give at least 90 days’ notice before ending benefits for time limits and limit how many end each week. Families who lose aid for the time cap can reapply, and decisions must follow the October 31, 2023 guidance. These rules apply when the secretary says the system cannot meet demand, and families must get printed, translated handouts on resources and how extensions work.

Competitive bidding for shelter service contracts

Any services paid with emergency housing funds for families or pregnant women must go through competitive bidding. Providers face standard bids instead of no-bid or one-off deals. Some firms gain chances to win work; others can lose renewals.

Shelter placements aim within 20 miles

The agency makes best efforts to place your family within 20 miles of your home community. If that is not practical, you can be placed farther away.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 381 • No: 72

House vote • 2/26/2025

Enacted

Yes: 127 • No: 23

House vote • 2/25/2025

House concurred in the Senate amendment with a further amendment, see text of House document numbered 61

Yes: 128 • No: 23

House vote • 2/6/2025

Passed to be engrossed

Yes: 126 • No: 26

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor, Chapter 1 of the Acts of 2025

    2/28/2025

  2. Laid before the Governor

    2/26/2025Senate

  3. Enacted - see Roll Call #25 (Yeas 32 to Nays 7)

    2/26/2025Senate

  4. Enacted - 127 YEAS to 23 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 25)

    2/26/2025House

  5. Emergency preamble adopted

    2/26/2025Senate

  6. Emergency preamble adopted

    2/26/2025House

  7. Motion to reconsider prevailed

    2/26/2025House

  8. Emergency preamble adopted

    2/26/2025House

  9. Senate concurred with the House further amendment

    2/26/2025Senate

  10. Rules suspended

    2/26/2025Senate

  11. House concurred in the Senate amendment with a further amendment, see text of House document numbered 61 - 128 YEAS to 23 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 12)

    2/25/2025House

  12. Referred to the committee on Bills in the Third Reading

    2/25/2025House

  13. Passed to be engrossed -- see Roll Call #16 (Yeas 33 to Nays 6)

    2/12/2025Senate

  14. Reprinted as amended, see S17

    2/12/2025Senate

  15. Read third

    2/12/2025Senate

  16. Ordered to a third reading

    2/12/2025Senate

  17. New text (Rodrigues) adopted, as amended

    2/12/2025Senate

  18. Read second

    2/12/2025Senate

  19. Placed in the Orders of the Day for Wednesday, February 12, 2025

    2/10/2025Senate

  20. Order relative to subject matter adopted

    2/10/2025Senate

  21. New text (Rodrigues) pending, see S16

    2/10/2025Senate

  22. Rules suspended

    2/10/2025Senate

  23. Read

    2/10/2025Senate

  24. Passed to be engrossed - 126 YEAS to 26 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 11)

    2/6/2025House

  25. H57, published as amended

    2/6/2025House

Bill Text

  • Chapter 1 of the Acts of 2025

    2/28/2025

    PDF

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