Governor Maura Healey said the right-to-shelter laws' “original intent” was not to cover the “waves and waves of people,” including migrant families, who have come into the state in recent years.

Governor Maura Healey proposes updates to Massachusetts' Right to Shelter law, including residency requirements and stricter background checks.

Less than a week after condemning security concerns surrounding a lack of background checks performed at shelters, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is proposing changes to the state's right-to-shelter law.

The Bay State will spend upwards of $8 billion over the next ten years improving its roads, bridges and regional transportation services if a proposal announced by the governor Tuesday is passed by the legislature.

The governor of Massachusetts has proposed that at least one member of a family staying in emergency shelters be in the country legally, hardening her stance at a time when concerns were raised about the safety at the facilties.

The proposal comes a day before her State of the Commonwealth address and as Republicans are seeking greater oversight of the troubled system.

Gov. Maura Healey proposed a series of major changes to state-run emergency shelters Wednesday that attempt to cordon off the maxed-out system from individuals who are not Massachusetts residents, including by implementing a three-month residency requirement.