Bill

A 176

Provides eligibility for state or local public benefits regardless of immigration status

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Catalina Cruz and 6 co-sponsors

Prohibits using immigration status to determine eligibility for state or local public benefits, allowing access regardless of documentation status.

REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES

WeVote Research Nonpartisan

Bill Summary · A 176

Summary of Bill A 176

Overview

Bill A 176 seeks to ensure that state or local public benefits are accessible to individuals regardless of their immigration status. Introduced on January 8, 2025, and referred to the Social Services committee, the measure would affect how eligibility for public benefits is determined and administered at the state and local level.

What the bill would do

Establish eligibility for state or local public benefits “without regard to immigration status.” In practice, this would mean that immigration status could not be used as a precondition to qualify for public benefits offered by state or local government agencies.
Clarify that individuals residing within the state may access such benefits regardless of whether they are documented or undocumented, subject to other standard eligibility criteria for the specific program.

Key provisions and changes (as inferred from the bill’s title and status)

Prohibition on basing eligibility on immigration status for state/local public benefits.
Applicability to benefits administered by state agencies and local governments (i.e., programs traditionally funded or administered at the state or municipal level).
Possible alignment of program administration with the bill’s nondiscrimination standard, requiring agencies to process and determine eligibility without regard to immigration status.

Note: The exact statutory language, definitions (e.g., what counts as “public benefits”), and any implementation details (such as training, reporting requirements, or phased timelines) are not provided in the summary materials available.

Who would be affected

Immigrant residents and households who rely on or may seek state/local public benefits.
State and local agencies and the offices responsible for administering public benefits.
Service providers and advocates who assist individuals in navigating public benefit programs.

Legislative status and timeline

Introduced: January 8, 2025.
Status: Referred to the Social Services committee on January 8, 2025 (two identical referrals recorded in the action log).
Related bills from prior sessions include A 10433, A 1997, and A 160, indicating ongoing consideration of immigration-status-related access to benefits.

Potential implications

If enacted, the bill could broaden access to public benefits for individuals regardless of immigration status, potentially affecting program enrollment, budgeting, and administrative processes at the state and local level.
Fiscal and operational impacts would depend on how benefits are defined and implemented, along with any related funding or oversight provisions.

This summary provides a high-level view based on the bill’s title and current status. For a more detailed understanding, the full text and fiscal notes (when available) would be essential.

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