Senator Sal DiDomenico

Press Releases

Press releases and opinion editorials from the Office of Senator Sal DiDomenico.

Governor Healey Funds the Implementation of Senator DiDomenico's Law to Provide Resources to Expand Access to Safety Net Programs

New Funding from Administration will Realize Promise of Common Application Law and Improve Access to Critical Safety-net Benefits for all Low-Income Massachusetts Residents 

The Healey Administration announced $40 million in federal and state funding to implement the law that Senator Sal DiDomenico championed for years, and the legislature passed in 2022 that would streamline access to core safety net programs. Legislation passed in August of 2022, Chapter 174 of the Acts of 2022, directed the Administration to create a Common Application for SNAP, MassHealth, cash assistance, childcare and housing subsidies, fuel assistance, and other needs-tested benefits and today this funding infusion will ensure the state can reach this goal.

The funding included in the Governor’s 5-year Capital Investment Plant represents a significant step towards making basic benefit programs more efficient and effective, closing participation gaps, maximizing federal revenue for needy families, and ensuring more residents connect to the programs they need. The announcement comes as part of the Administration’s broader efforts to improve quality of service across government programs, including enhancing transparency, accessibility, and cybersecurity.

“The allocation today by the Healey Administration of $18 Million will move the implementation of the Common Application forward in Massachusetts and help thousands of low-income individuals across the Commonwealth meet their basic needs,” said Senator Sal DiDomenico, Senate lead sponsor of the Common Application legislation and Assistant Majority Leader. “After many years of work on this issue we are thrilled to partner with the Administration and advocates to make the Common Application a reality and look forward to building on this momentum of equitably expanding access to public benefits.”

For many years, Massachusetts had separate application processes for MassHealth and SNAP, as well as many other safety-net programs, that all asked for the same basic information. For many low-income families, these burdensome and duplicative application processes were a significant barrier to access the benefits for which they were entitled. For example, the separate application process for MassHealth and SNAP resulted in the “SNAP Gap” – with approximately 700,000 MassHealth recipients who are likely income-eligible for SNAP, but not receiving them. The MA Legislature included language in the FY20 and FY21 budgets requiring the Administration to allow MassHealth applicants to apply for SNAP at the same time, which has produced significant results in boosting SNAP enrollment. The Common Application initiative weaves in other basic benefits and creates a “no wrong door” portal for low-income families, while allowing state agencies to more efficiently process benefits using common eligibility information and proofs.

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) and the Massachusetts chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-MA) led a coalition urging the adoption of a Common Application. De-siloing government programs and closing gaps were core goals of legislation and subsequent budget language filed by State Senator Sal DiDomenico and State Representative Jay Livingstone, An Act to Streamline Access to Critical Public Health and Safety-net Programs through Common Applications (S.761/H.1290). More than 70 State Senators and Representatives supported this legislation, demonstrating widespread bipartisan and bicameral support.

“Bureaucratic obstacles should never stand in the way of Massachusetts households being able to access the benefits they are eligible for to meet their basic everyday needs,” said Georgia Katsoulomitis, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI). “Passing the Common Application legislation was an important step in the process toward solving this issue, and today’s allocation of funds to get it implemented is a welcome affirmation from the Healey Administration that they are committed to improving the lives of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable residents.”

“Social workers understand how important it is to address the root causes of poverty and food insecurity through public policy. The infusion of this essential funding will finally allow the state to provide streamlined access to essential, life-saving benefits, which will improve economic mobility and, in turn, overall health and mental health outcomes for kids and families across our Commonwealth,” said Rebekah Gewirtz, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers, Massachusetts Chapter. “We are grateful the Administration took this bold action to finally begin to realize the Common Application and we look forward to working with the Administration on implementation.”

Patricia Baker, MLRI Sr. Policy Advocate and Chair of the statewide SNAP Coalition, added, “We are thrilled that Governor Healey and her Administration are actively removing access barriers and finally investing resources to make the Common Application a reality for Massachusetts families, older adults, and persons with disabilities who need to be connected to these key benefits. MLRI and the anti-poverty advocacy community look forward to working with the Healey Administration on robust implementation. We are deeply grateful to Chairman Jay Livingstone and Assistant Majority Leader Sal DiDomenico along with the Massachusetts Legislature for their unwavering efforts in closing the SNAP Gap and mandating the state create a Common Application. Massachusetts has the smarts and IT to get this done.”

The Common App Coalition is a coalition of more than 150 organizations across Massachusetts committed to reducing hunger and alleviating poverty and is led by the National Association of Social Workers – Massachusetts Chapter (NASW-MA) and the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI). The Coalition has been advocating for a Common Application and looks forward to continuing to work on the implementation of this initiative with the Healey Administration.

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Sal DiDomenico
DiDomenico's Legislation Included in Governor Healey’s Relationship & Sex Education Guidelines

Senator Sal DiDomenico joined Maura Healey, Senate President Karen Spilka, advocates, and his State House colleagues to celebrate the Governor’s Administration updating DESE’s outdated health and physical education framework to provide our students with sex and relationship education that is inclusive, medically accurate, and age appropriate. These guidelines haven’t been updated for over 20 years and will be considered by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. If the Board decides to move forward with the proposal, there will be a 60-day period for public comment followed by potential revisions and a vote on implementation later this year.

“As lead sponsor of the Healthy Youth Act bill, I take great pride in the health and well-being of our students and see this framework update as the natural progression toward passage and implementation of my legislation,” said State Senator Sal DiDomenico. “I want to thank Governor Maura Healey and her team for making this a priority, ensuring our students can protect their health, form respectful relationships, and build the bright futures they deserve.”

Senator Sal DiDomenico is lead sponsor of the Healthy Youth Act bill, An Act relative to healthy youth (S268), which has been proposed in the legislature for over a decade. This bill is similar to DESE’s new proposed guidelines but would make them permanent and give them the force of law which will ensure Massachusetts public schools electing to teach sex education curriculum use age-appropriate, medically accurate, and research-based information that covers a comprehensive range of topics. The legislation also calls for sex education to be inclusive and appropriate for students regardless of gender, race, disability status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Senator DiDomenico will continue to push for passage of the Healthy Youth Act.

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Sal DiDomenico
DiDomenico's Legislation included in Progressive Tax Relief Bill

Provides Significant Housing, Dependent Care, and Estate Tax Assistance

BOSTON – Last Thursday, Senator DiDomenico and his Senate colleagues approved a $590 million Tax Relief bill that delivers support to low- and middle-income earners and chips away at the headwinds that threaten Massachusetts’ competitiveness. Focusing on providing relief to residents across Massachusetts while upholding fiscal responsibility, the Senate's tax relief package will provide relief to renters, seniors, and parents struggling with high early education costs while also increasing much-needed housing production. With the recent passage of the FY24 budget last month, the Commonwealth is now poised to secure and strengthen its economic foundation to weather future uncertainty. This bill also includes language that DiDomenico has filed and pushed for in the areas of the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit.

“Our state is losing its competitive edge because many working families, older residents, and young people can’t afford to live here anymore and this tax relief package reflects our focus on fixing that,” said Senator DiDomenico, Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. “I am pleased to share that some of my biggest priorities were included, from increasing tax credits for working families to reforming some of our cumbersome public benefit programs which will ensure people can easily access all the financial support they deserve. I am also thrilled that we have taken steps to address our housing crisis, as well. I want to thank Senate President Karen Spilka, Chair Rodrigues, and Senator Moran for their dedication to making this a tax package that benefits residents who need it most.”

“As I have said from the outset, tax relief should go to the workers, families, and elderly residents of the Commonwealth who need it most,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Massachusetts doesn’t need just any tax relief; we need permanent, progressive, smart, and sustainable tax relief. Too many families have been caught between the rising costs of healthcare, housing, education, and basic goods. While we advance reforms to lower these costs and shore up our social services, meaningful tax relief is another tool in our kit to encourage people to live and raise their families in Massachusetts. I want to thank each of my Senate colleagues who contributed to this proposal, especially Senator Rodrigues and Senator Moran for their leadership in developing this strong package.”

This package includes a variety of initiatives as tax relief for the residents of Massachusetts. The bill:

  • Increases the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which provides critical support to working families, from 30% to 40% of the federal credit

  • Merges existing credits into a new and enhanced Child and Dependent Tax Credit (CDTC), increases the amount of the credit from $180 to $310 per child/dependent, and eliminates the current cap of two children/dependents

  • Increases statewide cap for the Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) from $10 million to $57 million on a one-time basis and then to $30 million annually

  • Increases the cap on the rental deduction from $3,000 to $4,000

  • Raises annual authorization of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, which directly supports the production of affordable housing units across the Commonwealth, from $40 million to $60 million

  • Doubles the maximum senior circuit breaker credit, which supports elderly residents who struggle with high housing costs, from $1,200 to $2,400

  • Excludes homes valued at under $2 million from the Estate Tax and eliminates the “cliff effect” by allowing a uniform credit of $99,600 for all estates

  • Triples the maximum credit under the Title V Tax Credit, which supports families who must replace failed septic systems, from $6,000 to $18,000, and lifts the amount claimable to $4,000 per year

  • Increases the statewide cap for the Dairy Tax credit from $6 million to $8 million

  • Expands eligible occupations for the Apprenticeship Tax Credit

  • Doubles the credit for lead paint abatement to $3,000 for full abatement and $1,000 for partial abatement

  • Expands the types of alcoholic drinks which qualify for a lower tax rate as part of the cider tax

Notably, this legislation ensures that student loan payment assistance offered by employers will not be treated as taxable compensation. The bill also adds regional transit fares and bike commuter expenses to the allowable commuter expenses eligible for favorable tax status.

To encourage affordable housing, the bill gives municipalities the option of adopting a local property tax exemption for real estate that is rented to a person below a certain area-dependent income level.

Additionally, the bill also directs the following studies:

  • A study by the Executive Office of Administration and Finance on the feasibility of making advance quarterly payments of the Child and Dependent Tax Credit

  • A study by the Department of Revenue on the efficacy of an additional, elective entity-level tax of up to 4 percent on a portion of qualified taxable income in the Commonwealth, coupled with a refundable credit, for eligible pass-through entities

As different versions of this legislation have passed the Senate and the House of Representatives, a conference committee will now be appointed to resolve differences between the two bills.  

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Sal DiDomenico