Connecticut SB 382: AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTH CARE.

Bill Text

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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 382
February Session, 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING EDIBLE FOOD RECOVERY.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) As used in this section: 1
(1) "Food distribution organization" means a nonprofit organization 2
that collects and distributes food to individuals for human 3
consumption; 4
(2) "Food recovery service" means an entity that collects and 5
transports food from a supermarket to a food distribution organization; 6
(3) "Supermarket" means a retail food store in the state that occupies 7
a total retail sales area of at least fifteen thousand square feet; and 8
(4) "Surplus edible food" means food intended for human 9
consumption that (A) is unsold due to surplus, cosmetic appearance, 10
nearing its expiration date or packaging damage that does not 11
compromise food safety, and (B) complies with all applicable food 12
safety standards. 13
(b) Not later than January 1, 2027, the Commissioner of Consumer 14
Protection, in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Health, 15
shall develop and implement guidelines for supermarkets to donate 16
surplus edible food to food distribution organizations throughout the 17

Substitute Bill No. 382

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state using a food recovery service and post such guidelines on the 18
Department of Consumer Protection's Internet web site. 19
(c) Not later than January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, each 20
supermarket shall report to the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, 21
in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, regarding its 22
donation of surplus edible food in accordance with the guidelines 23
developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. 24
(d) Not later than February 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, the 25
Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall report, in accordance with 26
the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, regarding the 27
donation of surplus edible food as reported by each supermarket 28
pursuant to subsection (c) of this section to the joint standing 29
committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 30
relating to consumer protection and public health. 31
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 New section

PH Joint Favorable Subst.