[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6193477,"mediaKeyId","3867053-f0e765b7bb02fe57cd116963f4f32a1a","parentId",3867053,"title","Senate highlights SNAP theft and funds EBT chip installation in supplemental budget","audioSeconds",282,"startMs",1459765,"endMs",1742070,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3867053-f0e765b7bb02fe57cd116963f4f32a1a&start=1459&end=1742","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3867053-f0e765b7bb02fe57cd116963f4f32a1a/thumbnail_1459765.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6193477/Massachusetts/Senate-highlights-SNAP-theft-and-funds-EBT-chip-installation-in-supplemental-budget","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193477-28046ae28e5b5fb972cf9cab9e9789c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770416460&Signature=ini3S0SxlGLIlEAawY-C~xHK3-IAUCxIIruDbNqRzOsQx48owNnz2FN2iQSGZvQiVYGIVOxKcTasb0CKps1jaf8qLPBh7o31g-R77fW0GW8TCFdAixIP1FjkLPBlHfAB9BXq9oUyJx1RYzr62dEZ9DDKMLuVXUTG99o-39hv2sQ16UCFLJYilyYDnvHtB9lm~CVm7AnvyuQCyP05vPHh6x3aT6pj1aUkufITWQ7KqMHu8DYqGawxo3muJ7-ryIrUgks~9dnDHuCQCQfQxfScylWz9SftrcT3T425YIlY6Fn30wYeCGN3zAzSzy2ag1reeLhj7PiJ1JcDaAuXHBNj5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Massachusetts Legislature","date","2025-06-18T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Edward J. Kennedy, senator from Worcester, raised concerns about theft of SNAP benefits and the effect on families, noting that thefts have left recipients without food. \"Right now in Massachusetts, on a monthly basis, up to a million dollars in benefits are stolen from recipients of SNAP,\" Kennedy said, adding that \"from January to March of this year alone, 7,800 families had their benefits stolen at no fault of their own and verified ... by DTA.\"

Senators continued the discussion of remedies in the supplemental budget. A senator who spoke in favor of recent budget language said, \"thanks to the leadership of a lot of folks, including Commissioner McHugh, there is 15 and a half million dollars in this supplemental budget to be able to install chips on EBT cards so that the benefit cannot be stolen as easily.\" That speaker described the investment as prevention that should pay dividends by reducing the frequency of electronic theft and noted additional proposals to make victims whole when theft does occur.

Senators also described measures in the underlying bill that would allow unspent funds in a related account to reimburse families whose benefits were stolen, filling a gap left when federal replacement reimbursement became uncertain. Senator Kennedy and others urged further legislative work to speed access to replacement benefits, while acknowledging that specific amendment language on timing was withdrawn for later consideration.

As presented in the Senate, the supplemental budget includes a $15.5 million line aimed at EBT card chip installation and additional language to provide replacement benefits from state funds if federal reimbursements are insufficient. Several amendments related to SNAP trafficking and criminal penalties were debated and at least one amendment to add electronic-stealing provisions to trafficking statutes was adopted during the session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Session of June 18, 2025 (Part 2 of 2)","oneSentenceSummary","Senators described verified cases of SNAP benefit theft and discussed measures included in the supplemental budget to install chips on EBT cards and provide replacement funds for victims; the session noted $15.5 million set aside to add chip security to EBT cards.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MA, Massachusetts","taxId",77682,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6193482,"Senate adopts amendment allowing state pharmacies to distribute mifepristone and gender-affirming medications",189,305160,494945,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3867053-f0e765b7bb02fe57cd116963f4f32a1a&start=305&end=494","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3867053-f0e765b7bb02fe57cd116963f4f32a1a/thumbnail_305160.jpg","/articles/6193482/Massachusetts/Senate-adopts-amendment-allowing-state-pharmacies-to-distribute-mifepristone-and-gender-affirming-medications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193482-cc561b253e5e9cc0dd31cd45444def18/orig.mp4?Expires=1770416460&Signature=GvUXyeoYvtgrOZ6iXB~T3h4U4ZNF09M0jARCK1-nhWi2ORrMdQIkh7HlB0TCnuReyJ6uQrn5tf8jsSat9Hzfaf013DSwSJ0zgpZgSTEfe2gKLPrmotygDd0geNLKfvdhEXa48l40CMGv3dSN4RuVwlsCqCnkJevBeaRwvNOuu7LCMS8drF1iLjL1HFcPpcyeMODoWrccPwk14HYKIEN3apH4eqgj2~Upp4T3o0~YRVUYSM68DLbfDyzWvfMBbOcYnzmO7AgwGK5NHEVYotpaPcJDQ2KNbyyMLConf4qdBO3enVwUndRyo1jgAElFuCCH-1fNbIDO-vmXWs7XZQMw0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Julian Cyr, senator from the Cape and Islands, explained Amendment 51, titled \"affirming health care,\" which would allow pharmacies operated by the Department of Public Health to distribute gender-affirming medications in addition to utilizing the state supply of mifepristone. \"This amendment seeks to allow pharmacies operated by the Department of Public Health, the ability to distribute gender affirming medications, in addition to utilizing the state stockpile of mifepristone,\" Cyr said.

Cyr framed the amendment as a response to what he described as mounting legal and policy challenges to reproductive and transgender health care access elsewhere in the country. He cited recent federal court and Supreme Court developments and said Massachusetts must ensure supply and distribution channels for these medications remain available for patients and providers in the Commonwealth. \"We must ensure continued supply of essential medications with forces coming after access to gender affirming medications as well,\" Cyr said.

The Senate adopted the amendment on a voice vote; the clerk announced, \"The ayes have it. The amendment is adopted.\" The amendment is expressed in the supplemental budget language (referred to in the session as \"section 29\") and modifies how the state can use stockpiled medications in DPH-operated pharmacies; it does not itself change criminal law or federal regulatory authority.

Proponents described the provision as a protective measure to maintain access for patients in Massachusetts, while opponents did not prevail at the voice vote. The transcript includes references to a 6–3 Supreme Court decision discussed by Cyr; the article reports that reference as part of his remarks but does not endorse the legal characterization beyond his statement.

The amendment's adoption adds distribution flexibility to the state stockpile policy as presented to the Senate during supplemental budget consideration.","Amendment 51, presented by Senator Julian Cyr, clarifies the ability of Department of Public Health-operated pharmacies to distribute mifepristone and gender-affirming medications from the state stockpile; the Senate adopted the amendment.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6193488,"Senate adopts $2.5 million amendment to support community health centers",74,25075,99165,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3867053-f0e765b7bb02fe57cd116963f4f32a1a&start=25&end=99","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3867053-f0e765b7bb02fe57cd116963f4f32a1a/thumbnail_25075.jpg","/articles/6193488/Massachusetts/Senate-adopts-25-million-amendment-to-support-community-health-centers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193488-24710ee8314db7a7ae1621016b0b262f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770416460&Signature=BaDMhlbVsD7XEYvM9xgOL3tOndFk3W1ihm1vwDo8PQowoj16JJEPqcxcWTr4dqQTVzMmXrizin1hJzHmD8G3KGn5~cIM-hDy~0~-q3ATvGyqGmyaU3nS2r7YkxFvEOsb1Z0iBxD2BeXxnFmuLatbADGVl5jaBGh37Gf9R0M-d9FrCqi6qzyO1BRvk4z-GNL6N~zR8Qx0oInSdfZTHOXxr5z6d0OCGhOgApEddonUbe7-dp7RgtMIiX0kDTjzwkzmSinWKyFlY23st4e4LWog~hKp68PsPt06Q6ByE1LlMHfY4sXVDizf58ZuxWFGNTk7tx7Su2vVPjxoTz2C0-k2qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Liz Miranda, senator from Suffolk, pressed the Senate to adopt Amendment 49, which allocates $2,500,000 of the $35,000,000 in the supplemental budget to the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. \"I rise today in strong support of Amendment 49 which allocates $2,500,000 of the $35,000,000 in this supplemental budget to the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers,\" Miranda said.

The amendment, Miranda said, is intended to provide technical assistance and support to safety-net clinics facing closures, staffing reductions and service cuts as federal funding becomes uncertain. \"Across Boston, more than 245,000 residents depend on community health centers for everything from primary care to dental care to behavioral health and maternal care,\" Miranda said, adding that \"over 42 percent of those individuals are on MassHealth.\"

Miranda warned that possible Medicaid cuts at the federal level could force community health centers to reduce services, cut staff or turn away patients. She described the funding as a preventive investment to stabilize neighborhood-based providers. The amendment passed on voice vote; the clerk announced, \"The ayes have it. The amendment is adopted.\"

The funding comes from a larger supplemental spending package before the Senate; the amendment does not itself create statute or programmatic changes but directs a discretionary allocation to the League. The Senate record does not include a roll-call tally for this specific amendment.

Supporters framed the measure as short-term technical assistance and capacity-building funding rather than long-term operating subsidies. Miranda tied the request to local impacts in the Second Suffolk district and to statewide concerns about the continuity of services for MassHealth enrollees.

The supplemental budget containing this amendment was later advanced by the Senate as part of broader appropriations actions taken during the session.","The Massachusetts Senate adopted Amendment 49, directing $2.5 million of a supplemental budget toward the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers for technical assistance and capacity support amid concerns about federal funding cuts and local care closures.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate highlights SNAP theft and funds EBT chip installation in supplemental budget

Senate adopts amendment allowing state pharmacies to distribute mifepristone and gender-affirming medications

Senate adopts $2.5 million amendment to support community health centers