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S 151

Small Business Property Tax Relief

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Carlisle Kennedy and 1 co-sponsor

Creates a diaper benefits pilot with a dedicated fund to acquire, store, and distribute free diapers to low-income families via up to 12 regional recipients, plus annual reporting.

Referred to Committee on Finance
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Bill Summary · S 151

Summary — S 151: An Act establishing a diaper benefits pilot program

Status: Introduced Jan 17, 2025; REFERRED TO CODES (see Legislative Actions below for additional committee activity)

Purpose

Create a diaper benefits pilot program to address diaper insufficiency among low‑income families by funding organizations that acquire, store, distribute, and promote free diapers to families with diaper‑wearing infants and children.

Key provisions

  • Adds new Section 2K to Chapter 111 (Public Health) establishing a "diaper benefits trust fund" (the Fund) administered by the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health (DPH).
  • Fund sources: appropriations or other monies authorized by the General Court and designated to the Fund; interest on those revenues; and public/private gifts, grants, and donations.
  • Fiscal rules: amounts credited to the Fund “shall not be subject to further appropriation,” and any money remaining at fiscal year end shall not revert to the General Fund.
  • Distribution process: DPH issues a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select “pilot program” organizations (entities such as diaper banks, diaper distribution organizations, food banks/pantries, or similar) to receive Fund awards.
  • Permitted uses of award funds: acquiring, storing, distributing diapers; organizing diaper drives; and marketing the pilot program.
  • Award limits and regional distribution: DPH may fund up to 12 applicants, with no more than 2 recipients from each of these regions: western, central, eastern, southeastern, Cape Cod & the Islands, and the Merrimack Valley. Organizations may collaborate.
  • Private donations: Commissioner must approve private funds and review terms to ensure no explicit or implicit conditions on diaper distribution.

Reporting & evaluation

  • DPH must report to the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities and to the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means not later than one year after each pilot program’s implementation.
  • Required report elements include:
    • number of children and households served;
    • number of diapers distributed by region;
    • description of distribution/eligibility decisions;
    • Fund balances and sources;
    • whether the pilot leveraged additional support;
    • amounts and purposes of Fund expenditures;
    • recommendation on expanding the pilot.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: low‑income families with diaper‑wearing infants and children in Massachusetts.
  • Implementing entities: nonprofit diaper banks, food pantries, and other community organizations that apply and are selected.
  • State agency: Department of Public Health (Commissioner) administers Fund, RFPs, and reporting.

Legislative status & notable actions (as provided)

  • Introduced in Senate: 2025-01-17
  • Read twice and referred to committee(s) on or about Jan 17, 2025 (multiple referrals to Codes; also referred to Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities).
  • Hearing scheduled: 2025-09-16 (A-2).
  • Reported favorably and referred to Senate Ways & Means: 2025-10-20.
  • Sponsors/petitioners listed in the bill: Joan B. Lovely (presenter), Mark C. Montigny, Vanna Howard. (Additional sponsor list provided separately in bill metadata.)

Potential impact

  • Could reduce diaper insecurity for participating families, lower barriers to childcare (some providers require families to supply diapers), and improve infant/child health and caregiver economic stability.
  • Establishes a dedicated fund and regional pilot structure to test scalable distribution models; outcomes reported to appropriate legislative committees to inform expansion decisions.

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

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