The bill amends Chapter 42-66 of the General Laws to establish a community grant program for older adult services within the Office of Healthy Aging. This program aims to provide financial assistance and incentives to municipal governments and nonprofit agencies to operate programs that support individuals aged sixty-five and older, including senior centers, community resource centers, outreach, social services, health promotion, physical fitness, recreation, lifelong learning, transportation assistance, and caregiver support services.

For fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, the total amount of funds appropriated for the grant program shall be sufficient to award each municipality a minimum grant of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or the sum of ten dollars ($10.00) per each non-institutionalized resident aged sixty-five and older, based on the most recent U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey five-year population estimate. Additionally, for fiscal year 2026, no community shall receive less than the fiscal year 2025 state grant awarded for such purposes by the office. If a municipality does not directly operate local programs for older adults, the office shall distribute and award the municipality's basic grant to community nonprofit agencies that are operating relevant programs.

To be eligible for a community older adult program grant, a municipality or nonprofit agency must contribute an equal amount of cash or in-kind resources for program support that it provided in state fiscal year 2025, submit a plan detailing the programs and/or services to be provided with grant funds, indicate how the proposed plan meets the needs of local older adults, show how the local share match will be met, and demonstrate the existence or plans to establish a local older adult advisory committee with a majority of members aged sixty-five and older.

In approving grant proposals, the office shall consider how the spending plan addresses the municipality's comprehensive plan regarding services and programs for older adults and the goals and objectives of the most recent state plan on aging submitted to the Federal Administration on Aging. The act is set to take effect upon passage.