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SB 1482 Connecticut Senate · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING MAXIMIZING USE OF FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FUNDS AND THE RESTAURANT MEALS PROGRAM FOR THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF ELDERLY PERSONS AND OTHERS.

SB 1482 directs Connecticut to implement the federal Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), allowing eligible SNAP beneficiaries (60+ years old, disabled, homeless, or spouses of eligible recipients) to use their benefits at participating restaurants for meals. The bill requires the Commissioner of Social Services to develop a state plan by November 2025, submit a USDA application by December 2025, and report progress to the legislature. It establishes an advisory committee with stakeholder input to study best practices and recommend implementation steps. The law aims to maximize existing federal nutrition funds for elderly and vulnerable residents who currently cannot access restaurant meals with SNAP benefits.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Mar 6, 2025 Last action Apr 3, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → HS Joint Favorable Substitute · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renumbered from a 'Raised Bill' to a 'Substitute Bill' and its title was expanded to include the Restaurant Meals Program. The bill now establishes a new advisory committee with specific member requirements to help develop the program, sets new deadlines for applying to the federal program and submitting reports, and clarifies eligibility criteria for the Restaurant Meals Program to include disabled and homeless individuals.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from a general elderly nutrition program to specifically include the Restaurant Meals Program, adding new requirements for an advisory committee and more detailed reporting deadlines.
DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for 'Restaurant Meals Program' and 'eligible beneficiary' to clarify who can use the program.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new advisory committee with 10 specific member positions including representatives from community action agencies, nonprofits, restaurants, and government bodies.

Added requirements for the advisory committee to submit interim recommendations by October 1, 2025 and annual reports until the program is established.

TIMELINE

Changed the deadline for filing a report on the Restaurant Meals Program plan from December 31, 2025 to November 1, 2025, and added a new deadline of December 1, 2025 for submitting the formal federal application.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded eligibility criteria to include disabled and homeless individuals in addition to elderly persons.

REPORTING

Modified reporting requirements to include both aging and human services committees instead of just human services committee.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Human Services
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.