Bill > HB06089

This bill proposes a comprehensive approach to addressing food insecurity in Connecticut through multiple strategic interventions. The legislation aims to improve food access by implementing universal free school meals, which would ensure that all students receive nutritious meals regardless of their family's income. It seeks to address benefits cliffs—situations where small increases in income can cause a dramatic loss of government assistance—in state-administered programs to prevent people from losing critical support. The bill would increase the minimum benefit under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food assistance to low-income individuals and families. Additionally, the legislation would require the Commissioner of Social Services to seek a Medicaid waiver that would allow food to be treated as medicine, potentially enabling health insurance to cover nutritional interventions. The bill also proposes establishing regional food access hubs, expanding food business incubators to support local food entrepreneurs, and enhancing grants for local food purchasing and capacity building. To support these initiatives long-term, the bill would create a dedicated special fund for food and nutrition in the state budget, with specific revenue sources to ensure sustainable funding for food access efforts.

Health and Social Services

https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB06089&which_year=2025