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AB-553 • 2026

CalFresh: food access.

CalFresh: food access.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Caloza
Last action
2025-07-14
Official status
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 38, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on how the department will implement these changes or any additional federal approvals needed beyond those currently allowed by federal law.

CalFresh: Food Access

This law requires the California Department of Social Services to maximize food choices available to CalFresh recipients, including hot foods and ready-to-eat items.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the State Department of Social Services to maximize food choices for people who get CalFresh benefits.
  • Includes allowing CalFresh users to buy hot foods or ready-to-eat items.

Who It Names or Affects

  • CalFresh recipients
  • The State Department of Social Services

Terms To Know

CalFresh
California's name for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that helps people buy food.
Food choices
The different types of food items a person can purchase with their CalFresh benefits, including hot foods and ready-to-eat products.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how the department will implement these changes.
  • It is unclear what additional federal approvals or waivers might be needed to expand food choices beyond those currently allowed by federal law.

Bill History

  1. 2025-07-14 California Legislative Information

    Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 38, Statutes of 2025.

  2. 2025-07-14 California Legislative Information

    Approved by the Governor.

  3. 2025-07-11 California Legislative Information

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.

  4. 2025-07-03 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.

  5. 2025-07-03 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 35. Noes 0. Page 1932.).

  6. 2025-07-01 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

  7. 2025-06-30 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.

  8. 2025-06-17 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  9. 2025-05-07 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on HUMAN S.

  10. 2025-04-24 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  11. 2025-04-24 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 75. Noes 0. Page 1276.)

  12. 2025-04-10 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

  13. 2025-04-09 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 9).

  14. 2025-03-26 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  15. 2025-03-26 California Legislative Information

    Coauthors revised.

  16. 2025-03-18 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.

  17. 2025-03-17 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. Read second time and amended.

  18. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on HUM. S.

  19. 2025-02-12 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.

  20. 2025-02-11 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 553, Caloza.
CalFresh: food access.
Existing federal law provides for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county.
Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to seek all available federal waivers and approvals necessary to maximize food choices for CalFresh recipients under federal law and guidance, including to purchase hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption, pursuant to federal law, as specified.
This bill would instead require the department to maximize all available food choices for CalFresh recipients, including, but not limited to, hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption, pursuant to federal law, as specified.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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