Bill > HB472

This bill modifies state employee reimbursement policies for meals by creating a new provision that allows state agencies to reimburse employees for groceries purchased within their designated headquarters area, but only under specific conditions. The new law defines "groceries" as food items sold at grocery stores or similar retail establishments and allows reimbursement when the groceries are purchased the day before or the day of official state business travel, and are consumed while the employee is traveling away from their designated headquarters. Employees can only be reimbursed for the prorated portion of groceries consumed each day during official travel, and these grocery purchases will be considered meal expenses subject to existing travel expense limits in the General Appropriations Act. Before implementing these reimbursements, state agencies must first develop and adopt a specific policy authorizing such grocery expense claims. The bill also slightly modifies existing language about meal expense reimbursement to reference the new grocery reimbursement section. The new law will take effect on September 1, 2025, giving state agencies time to prepare and develop their policies.