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Bill

S 147

Free School Meals

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jeffrey Graham and 1 co-sponsor

Requires the state to promptly replace the full amount of EBT benefits stolen when federal funds don’t cover it, after reporting and verification.

Referred to Committee on Education
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 147

Summary — S 147: Relates to limiting certain disclosure of law enforcement disciplinary records / An Act to replace stolen benefits

Note: The bill title and text as provided relate to replacing stolen benefits. Some metadata (sponsors, committee referrals) appear inconsistent across sources; readers should verify procedural and sponsor information with the official Massachusetts Legislature site.

Main purpose

To require the Commonwealth (through the designated state department) to promptly replace the full amount of financial assistance or nutrition benefits that are stolen from recipients via electronic benefit transfer (EBT) fraud (e.g., card skimming, card cloning, organized identity theft) when federal funds do not cover replacement.

Key provisions

  • Amends subsection (B) of Section 2 of chapter 18 of the Massachusetts General Laws by inserting a new paragraph (t).
  • Paragraph (t) requires the Department to:
    • Promptly replace the full amount of financial assistance or nutrition benefits stolen via EBT card skimming, card cloning, or other fraudulent methods (including organized identity theft schemes),
    • Do so only to the extent federal funds fail to provide replacement,
    • Replace benefits provided the thefts have been reported to or identified by the Department in accordance with the Department’s procedures for making and verifying replacement claims.
  • Establishes a conditional state obligation: replacement occurs when federal reimbursement is unavailable and when claim-reporting/verification procedures are satisfied.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: recipients of state-administered financial assistance and nutrition benefits who use EBT cards (e.g., SNAP/food assistance and other means-tested benefit recipients).
  • State department responsible for administering benefits (to implement reporting/verification procedures and process replacements).
  • State budget/treasury: potential exposure to replacing benefits when federal funds are not available.
  • Potential secondary effects on fraud investigation and benefit administration processes.

Fiscal and administrative impact (anticipated)

  • Direct cost: the Commonwealth may need to cover replacement amounts when federal reimbursement is unavailable. Total fiscal impact depends on the incidence and dollar amount of EBT fraud.
  • Administrative costs: creating/maintaining reporting and verification procedures, claims processing, and potential anti-fraud measures.
  • Potential for reduced hardship for impacted households; limited fraud risk if verification procedures are robust.

Procedural / timeline status (as provided)

  • Introduced in the Massachusetts Senate: January 16–17, 2025 (presented by Sen. Robyn K. Kennedy).
  • Referred to various committees per records provided (Environment & Public Works; Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities; Investigations and Government Operations). A hearing was scheduled for 09/16/2025; reported favorably by a committee and referred to Senate Ways & Means on 10/20/2025.
  • No effective date specified in the provided text.

Notes and considerations

  • The bill conditions state replacement on federal noncoverage and on compliance with departmental reporting/verification procedures; specifics of those procedures (timing, evidence required, appeals) are not set in the text and would be determined administratively.
  • Metadata provided includes mixed sponsor names (including federal legislators) and duplicate/contradictory referrals; consult the official Massachusetts legislative docket for authoritative sponsor and status information.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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