AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO THE FARMERS' MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM.

Senate
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General Assembly File No. 74
February Session, 2026 Substitute Senate Bill No. 149

Senate, March 19, 2026

The Committee on Environment reported through SEN. LOPES
of the 6th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the
Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO THE FARMERS' MARKET
NUTRITION PROGRAM.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 22 -6g of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 2
For the purposes of sections 22-6g to 22-6p, inclusive, as amended by 3
this act: 4
(1) "Application" means a request made by an individual to the 5
department for [vendor] farmer certification in CFM/WIC on a form 6
provided by the department; 7
(2) ["Authorized farmers' market" ] "Authorized benefit location " 8
means a farmers' market , farm stand or mobile market that operates 9
within the service area and is a site authorized by the department for 10
the exchange of [vouchers] benefits and Connecticut -grown fresh 11
produce and honey; 12
(3) ["Certified vendor"] "Certified farmer" means an individual who 13
has met all CFM/WIC conditions as outlined by the department and 14
who is guaranteed payment on all [vouchers] benefits accepted, 15
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provided compliance is maintained by that individual regarding all 16
CFM/WIC rules and procedures as outlined in the [vendor] farmer 17
certification handbook; 18
[(4) "Certified vendor identification stamp" means a department -19
issued stamp that shall be utilized by the certified vendor during each 20
occurrence of voucher deposit in the financial institution of certified 21
vendor choice. This stamp shall remain the sole property of the 22
department and shall be forfeited by the certified vendor to the 23
department in the event of suspension;] 24
[(5) "Certified vendor identification sign" ] (4) "Certified farmer 25
identification sign" means a department -issued sign which shall be 26
clearly displayed by the certified [vendor] farmer at all times when 27
accepting or intending to accept [vouchers] benefits in an authorized 28
[farmers' market] benefit location. Signs shall remain the sole property 29
of the department and shall be forfeited by the certified [vendor] farmer 30
to the department in the event of suspension; 31
[(6) "Certified vendor number" means a personal identification 32
number issued by the department and assigned to an individual whom 33
the department has identified as a certified vendor;] 34
[(7)] (5) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Agriculture; 35
[(8)] (6) "Department" means the Department of Agriculture; 36
[(9)] (7) "Designated distribution WIC clinic" means a site authorized 37
by the department for dispersal of [vouchers] benefits by the local WIC 38
agency; 39
[(10)] (8) "Distribution" means the process outlined by the 40
department and the means by which local WIC agencies actually 41
[dispense vouchers] distribute benefits to eligible participants; 42
[(11)] (9) "Farm products" means any fresh fruits, vegetables, 43
mushrooms, nuts, shell eggs, honey or other bee products, maple syrup 44
or maple sugar, flowers, nursery stock and other horticultural 45
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commodities, livestock food products, including meat, milk, cheese and 46
other dairy products, food products of "aquaculture", as defined in 47
subsection (q) of section 1-1, including fish, oysters, clams, mussels and 48
other molluscan shellfish taken from the waters of the state or tidal 49
wetlands, products from any tree, vine or plant and their flowers, or any 50
of the products listed in this subdivision that have been processed by 51
the participating farmer, including, but not limited to, baked goods 52
made with farm products; 53
[(12)] (10) "Farmers' market" means a cooperative or nonprofit 54
enterprise or association that consistently occupies a given site 55
throughout the season, which operates principally as a common 56
marketplace for a group of farmers, at least two of whom are selling 57
Connecticut-grown fresh produce, to sell Connecticut -grown farm 58
products directly to consumers, and where the products sold are 59
produced by the participating farmers with the sole intent and purpose 60
of generating a portion of household income; 61
[(13)] (11) "Fresh produce" means fruits and vegetables that have not 62
been processed in any manner and chicken eggs; 63
[(14)] (12) "CFM/WIC" means the Connecticut farmers' market 64
[supplemental food] nutrition program for women, infants and children 65
participants as administered by the department; 66
[(15)] (13) "Local WIC agency" means an entity that [administers local 67
health programs and which has entered into contract for voucher 68
distribution and related service with the department] contracts with the 69
Department of Public Health for the administration of the WIC program 70
and distributes benefits to eligible WIC participants; 71
[(16)] (14) "Connecticut-grown" means produce and other farm 72
products, [that have a traceable point of origin within Connecticut ] as 73
defined in section 22-38; 74
[(17)] (15) "Posted hours and days" means the operational time frames 75
stated in assurances submitted by a duly authorized representative of 76
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an authorized [farmers' market ] benefit location which includes a 77
beginning and an ending date for each year of operation; 78
[(18)] (16) "Participant" means a client of WIC who is at least one year 79
of age, who possesses one of the WIC classification codes selected for 80
inclusion by the Department of Public Health and who is an active 81
participant in a designated distribution clinic; 82
[(19)] (17) "Season" means a clearly delineated period of time during 83
a given year that has a beginning date and ending date, as specified by 84
the department, which correlates with a major portion of the harvest 85
period for Connecticut-grown fresh produce; 86
[(20)] (18) "Service area" means the geographic areas that encompass 87
all of the designated distribution clinics and authorized [farmers' 88
markets] benefit locations within Connecticut for a given season; 89
[(21)] (19) "USDA-FNS" means the United States Department of 90
Agriculture-Food and Nutrition Service; 91
[(22) "Vendor certification handbook" ] (20) " Farmer certification 92
handbook" means a publication by the department that is based on 93
USDA-FNS mandates and guidelines, addresses CFM/WIC rules and 94
procedures applicable to a certified [vendor,] farmer and provides the 95
basis for [vendor] farmer training. A copy of the publication shall be 96
issued to each individual prior to application. New editions supersede 97
all previous editions; 98
[(23) "Voucher"] (21) "Benefit " means a [negotiable instrument ] 99
monetary amount issued by the department to participants that is 100
redeemable only for Connecticut -grown fresh unprocessed produce 101
from certified [vendors] farmers at authorized [farmers' markets] 102
benefit locations , with a limited negotiable period that directly 103
correlates to the season designated by the department; and 104
[(24)] (22) "WIC" means the special supplemental food program for 105
women, infants and children, as administered by the Department of 106
Public Health. 107
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Sec. 2. Section 22 -6h of the general statutes is repealed and the 108
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 109
(a) There is established the Connecticut Farmers' [Market/Women,] 110
Market Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children [Nutrition 111
Program] which [shall] may be jointly funded by the state of 112
Connecticut and the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States 113
Department of Agriculture. The program shall supply Connecticut -114
grown fresh produce to participants of the [special supplemental food] 115
CFM/WIC program through the distribution of [vouchers] benefits that 116
are redeemable only at [designated Connecticut farmers' markets ] 117
authorized benefit locations in Connecticut. The program is designed to 118
provide both a supplemental source of fresh produce for the dietary 119
needs of women, infants and children who are [judged] determined to 120
be at nutritional risk and to stimulate an increased demand for 121
Connecticut-grown fresh produce at authorized Connecticut [farmers' 122
markets] benefit locations. 123
(b) The program shall be administered by the Commissioner of 124
Agriculture who shall maintain all conditions as outlined in the farmers' 125
market nutrition program agreement entered into with USDA -FNS, as 126
amended. 127
Sec. 3. Section 22 -6i of the general statutes is repealed and the 128
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 129
(a) The Department of Public Health WIC client screening processes 130
and records shall provide the basis for identifying participants eligible 131
for receipt of [vouchers] benefits. 132
(b) Local WIC agencies shall distribute [vouchers] benefits at 133
designated distribution clinics to participants in the manner specified 134
by the department in the program and procedures guide for distribution 135
clinic staff. Local WIC agency services shall ensure that: 136
[(1) Vouchers are distributed only to participants through verification 137
that the client name and number on the distribution registry provided 138
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by the Department of Public Health correspond with the client name 139
and number printed on the WIC identification folder in the possession 140
of the participant.] 141
[(2)] (1) Each eligible participant is issued [five three-dollar vouchers 142
during each distribution as authorized by the department] a benefit 143
amount, determined annually, based on the federal and state allocation 144
for the given program year. 145
[(3) The voucher serial numbers issued to the participant correspond 146
to the number in the distribution registry in which the participant 147
signature is affixed. 148
(4) Each voucher issued and the distribution registry are properly 149
signed by the participant in the presence of local agency staff at the time 150
of distribution or, if a proxy is utilized, a written, electronic or verbal 151
communication is made by the participant or such proxy which 152
acknowledges receipt from the local agency staff at the time of 153
distribution.] 154
[(5)] (2) Any adult may act as a proxy provided the participant 155
designates such adult as [his or her] such adult's proxy in writing. 156
[(6)] (3) Each participant is provided a thorough explanation of 157
program guidelines and participant responsibility as outlined by the 158
department. 159
[(7)] (4) All CFM/WIC support materials are put into use as outlined 160
by the department. 161
[(8)] (5) Accurate and complete records of all related CFM/WIC 162
activities in the possession of a WIC local agency are maintained and 163
retained for a minimum of [four] three years. In the event of litigation, 164
negotiation, or audit findings, the records shall be retained until all 165
issues arising from such actions have been resolved or until the end of 166
the regular [four-year] three-year period, whichever is later. 167
[(9)] (6) All agency records pertaining to this program shall be made 168
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available for inspection to representatives of USDA -FNS, the 169
Comptroller General of the United States, the state Auditors of Public 170
Accounts, the department, and the Department of Public Health as 171
necessary, at any time during normal business hours, and as frequently 172
as is deemed necessary for inspection and audit. Confidentiality of 173
personal information shall be maintained as to all program participants 174
at all times. 175
Sec. 4. Section 22 -6j of the general statutes is repealed and the 176
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 177
Participants shall be responsible for: 178
(1) [Qualifying under WIC program guidelines and attending ] 179
Attending a designated distribution clinic during the relevant 180
distribution cycles when [vouchers are dispersed ] benefits are 181
disbursed; 182
[(2) Properly countersigning a voucher prior to use;] 183
[(3)] (2) Using [vouchers] benefits only to purchase Connecticut -184
grown fresh produce from certified [vendors] farmers who display 185
[CFM/WIC signs at authorized farmers' markets ] a certified farmer 186
identification poster at authorized benefit locations; 187
[(4)] (3) Redeeming [vouchers] benefits on or before the expiration 188
date [printed on the face ] of the [voucher] benefit or surrendering all 189
claim to the value of [vouchers] benefits that remain unredeemed; 190
[(5)] (4) Ensuring [vouchers] benefits that are received are not 191
assigned to any other party other than as provided by the [department] 192
program; 193
[(6)] (5) Reporting violations or problems to the department or the 194
local agency; and 195
[(7)] (6) Reporting all incidents of lost or stolen [vouchers] benefits to 196
the local agency. 197
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Sec. 5. Section 22 -6k of the general statutes is repealed and the 198
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 199
(a) Each authorized [farmers' market] benefit location shall maintain 200
records of operation which shall be provided to the department and 201
which shall include posted hours and days and shall be signed by a duly 202
authorized representative of the [farmers' market ] benefit location . 203
[Farmers' market ] Benefit location assurances shall be submitted in a 204
manner outlined by the department and shall provide evidence of: 205
(1) Whether a [farmers' market ] benefit location possesses the 206
capability to serve the additional demands brought about by 207
distribution of [vouchers] benefits in the area without causing undue 208
harm to the existing farmers' market , farm stands or mobile market 209
consumer base; and 210
(2) A willingness by persons associated with the [farmers' market ] 211
authorized benefit location to meet all [CFM/WIC] program 212
requirements. Information submitted by a [farmers' market ] benefit 213
location shall include, but not be limited to: 214
(A) The number of Connecticut-grown fresh produce [vendor] farmer 215
participants; 216
(B) Hours of operation to be maintained per week; 217
(C) Season of operation; and 218
(D) Accessibility and consistency of [farmers' market ] benefit 219
location. 220
(b) The department shall give priority to a [farmers' market] benefit 221
location with previous involvement in CFM/WIC provided the 222
[farmers' market ] benefit location has maintained the conditions 223
outlined in its [farmers' market] assurances and does not have a high 224
incidence of certified [vendor] farmer noncompliance or suspensions. 225
[(c) In determining a farmers' market's authorization, the 226
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commissioner shall consider the number of eligible applications 227
received by the department prior to the first of May which indicate the 228
intent to participate in the proposed farmers' market. The standard for 229
the authorization of a single or principal farmers' market in a county 230
shall be one eligible application for every one hundred participants who 231
participate in the distribution clinic in said county. A minimum of two 232
or more eligible applications shall be required for a farmers' market to 233
receive authorization. 234
(d) The number of farmers' markets authorized for the season shall 235
be determined by the department no later than the thirty -first day of 236
May prior to each season.] 237
Sec. 6. Section 22 -6l of the general statutes is repealed and the 238
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 239
(a) [Vendor] Farmer certification shall not be in effect and [vouchers] 240
benefits shall not be accepted until receipt by the applicant of a certified 241
[vendor] farmer identification [stamp, a certified vendor identification 242
sign] poster and the applicant copy of the [department-vendor] 243
department-farmer agreement. 244
(b) Each [vendor] farmer certification shall be valid for three years. 245
The department shall not limit the number of [vendors] farmers who 246
may become certified under CFM/WIC. A [vendor] farmer who 247
satisfies all the following criteria shall be certified to accept [vouchers] 248
benefits: 249
(1) Agrees to maintain only Connecticut -grown fresh produce on 250
display in a certified [vendor] farmer stall; 251
(2) Indicates an intent to participate in one or more authorized 252
[farmers' markets] benefit locations; 253
(3) [Demonstrates participation ] Participates in training on 254
CFM/WIC rules and procedures through attendance in an entire 255
session of one of the scheduled training meetings conducted by 256
department staff [;] and completes an annual online learning module 257
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and receives a passing score on a knowledge test; and 258
[(4) Submits a signed statement of receipts of a vendor certification 259
handbook;] 260
[(5)] (4) Submits a timely completed application and crop plan to the 261
department [prior to the deadline established by the department; and ] 262
utilizing the application form and processes established by the 263
department. 264
[(6) Submits completed and signed certified vendor agreements to the 265
department.] 266
Sec. 7. Section 22 -6m of the general statutes is repealed and the 267
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 268
(a) A certified [vendor] farmer may accept [vouchers] benefits only 269
for a transaction that takes place at [a certified farmers' market ] an 270
authorized benefit location and only in exchange for Connecticut-grown 271
fresh produce and may accept [vouchers] benefits as payment for 272
Connecticut-grown fresh produce only if presented [on or before the 273
usage expiration date printed on the face of the voucher ] by an eligible 274
participant. 275
(b) A certified [vendor] farmer shall (1) prominently display a 276
certified [vendor identification sign ] farmer identification poster as 277
outlined in the certified [vendor] farmer handbook, (2) provide 278
Connecticut-grown fresh produce and honey to participants upon 279
receipt of [a valid and properly completed voucher, which is signed by 280
the WIC client] benefits, (3) handle transactions with [WIC] participants 281
in the same manner as transactions with all other customers, (4) not 282
collect state or local taxes on purchases involving [vouchers] benefits, 283
(5) charge participants a price for Connecticut-grown fresh produce that 284
is equal to or less than the current price charged to nonparticipant 285
customers, (6) not levy a surcharge based on the use of [vouchers] 286
benefits by participants, (7) return no cash or issue credit in any form to 287
participants during sales transactions that involve [vouchers] benefits 288
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only and in the event of a single transaction in which a participant 289
presents a combination of cash and [vouchers] benefits for the purchase 290
of Connecticut-grown fresh produce and honey, cash or credit up to the 291
value of the cash portion of the payment shall be given to the 292
participant, (8) participate in training as the department deems 293
necessary to carry out the intent of CFM/WIC, (9) cooperate with the 294
department in the evaluation of each season by completely and 295
accurately responding to a survey, with resubmission to the department 296
in a specified and timely manner, (10) immediately inform the 297
department in the event of loss, destruction [,] or theft of [either the 298
certified vendor endorsement stamp or ] a certified [vendor] farmer 299
identification [sign] poster so that a replacement may be issued, and (11) 300
comply with all procedures and rules as herein outlined and as 301
delineated in the [department-vendor] department-farmer agreement, 302
the certified [vendor] farmer handbook and official written notices of 303
clarification issued by the department to the [vendor] farmer. 304
Sec. 8. Section 22 -6n of the general statutes is repealed and the 305
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 306
(a) [The commissioner shall return a voucher to a certified vendor 307
unpaid if the certified vendor identification number is not properly 308
affixed to the back of the voucher, the certified vendor does not endorse 309
the voucher or the participant's signature is missing on the face of the 310
voucher.] A [voucher] transaction may be resubmitted for payment in 311
the event that the [signature or vendor certification identification] error 312
can be properly and legally corrected by the certified [vendor] farmer. 313
Violations of CFM/WIC procedures and rules applicable to a certified 314
[vendor] farmer shall be identified as Class I violations, Class II 315
violations and Class III violations. Violations involving the use of 316
multiple [vouchers] benefits in a single sales transaction shall be 317
considered as a single violation. Violations involving multiple sales 318
transactions, regardless of time elapsed, shall be considered multiple 319
violations at a standard of one violation per sales transaction. 320
(b) For Class I violations, the commissioner shall issue a warning 321
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letter to the violating certified [vendor] farmer. Failure to appropriately 322
display the certified [vendor] farmer identification [sign] poster and 323
prices as specified in the signage requirements shall constitute a Class I 324
violation. 325
(c) For Class II violations, the commissioner shall issue an official 326
written citation of noncompliance to the violating certified [vendor] 327
farmer. The following shall constitute Class II violations: 328
(1) Noncompliance with rules and procedures as outlined in the 329
[vendor] farmer certification handbook and in the [department-vendor] 330
department-farmer agreement which is not specifically identified as a 331
Class I violation; 332
(2) Participant is charged a price that is greater than that charged 333
nonparticipant or is charged for items not received; 334
(3) Refusal to accept valid [vouchers] benefits for Connecticut-grown 335
fresh produce and honey; 336
(4) Failure to permit or comply with procedures regarding inspection 337
of evidence by the department when point of origin of fresh produce 338
and honey on display or offered for sale in a certified [vendor] farmer 339
staff is in question; 340
(5) Abusive or discriminatory treatment of participants or CFM/WIC 341
staff; 342
(6) Displaying or offering for sale non -Connecticut-grown fresh 343
produce and honey in a certified [vendor] farmer stall; 344
(7) An authorized [farmers' market] benefit location is neither open 345
nor staffed during posted hours and days during the season in which 346
the certified [vendor] farmer is a designated participant; or 347
(8) The second like instance of a Class I violation by a single certified 348
[vendor] farmer. 349
(d) For Class III violations, the commissioner shall suspend the 350
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violating [vendor] farmer from participation in CFM/WIC. The 351
following shall constitute Class III violations: 352
(1) A third Class I violation by a single [vendor] farmer; 353
(2) The second of two Class II violations of the same type by a single 354
[vendor;] farmer; or 355
(3) Exchanging ineligible products or cash for [vouchers; or] benefits. 356
[(4) Cashing vouchers for a noncertified market.] 357
(e) The commissioner shall issue a written official notice of 358
noncompliance to the certified [vendor] farmer within seventy -two 359
hours of receipt of evidence involving an act of noncompliance. 360
Suspension of a certified [vendor] farmer from participation in 361
CFM/WIC shall remain in effect for the remainder of the season. An 362
exception shall occur when suspension occurs within thirty days of the 363
expiration date for [voucher] benefit usage by participants. In such case, 364
suspension shall also include the entire season of the following calendar 365
year. In the event of a suspension, the [vendor] farmer shall reimburse 366
the commissioner for the value of any [vouchers] benefits deposited and 367
paid upon after the official date of suspension notification. At the 368
conclusion of a suspension period, the [vendor] farmer may reapply for 369
certification in order to resume participation in CFM/WIC. 370
(f) Any [vendor] farmer successfully recertified following a 371
suspension shall be on probationary status for one full season. 372
Recurrence of a Class II violation during the probationary period and 373
for which the certified [vendor] farmer has been cited shall be sufficient 374
grounds for immediate and automatic suspension. 375
Sec. 9. Section 22 -6o of the general statutes is repealed and the 376
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 377
A written notice of noncompliance or suspension from the 378
department shall be pending for seventy -two hours of receipt by the 379
certified [vendor] farmer. The certified [vendor] farmer shall be granted 380
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the pending period for presenting sufficient evidence to the department 381
to substantiate a reversal. Remedies undertaken in response to receipt 382
of written notice of a pending citation of noncompliance or suspension 383
shall not constitute evidence in defense of such citation. Failure to 384
present any evidence to the department within the specified pending 385
period shall constitute acceptance of the citation of noncompliance or 386
suspension by the certified [vendor] farmer. Submission of insufficient 387
evidence by the certified [vendor] farmer for determination of reversal 388
on the pending citation by the department shall result in an official 389
citation of noncompliance or suspension upon completion of the 390
pending period. 391
Sec. 10. Section 22 -6p of the general statutes is repealed and the 392
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 393
(a) Assurances, on forms provided by the department, [must] shall be 394
submitted no later than the first day of March in order for the [farmers' 395
market] authorized benefit location to receive consideration of 396
authorization for the upcoming season. 397
[(b) All applications shall be submitted no later than one month 398
preceding the last date in which vouchers may be used by participants 399
at authorized farmers' markets.] 400
[(c)Vouchers] (b) Benefits shall be valid from the time of issue 401
through the season ending date as designated by the department. [Such 402
date shall be clearly printed on the voucher face. Voucher] Benefit usage 403
shall be null and void after [expiration date] the end of the season. 404
[(d) All vouchers accepted by a certified vendor shall be deposited on 405
or before thirty days following the date of expiration for voucher usage 406
by participants. Such date shall be clearly printed on the front of 407
vouchers. Any claim to voucher payment beyond the voucher 408
reimbursement expiration date is not valid and shall be denied.] 409
[(e)] (c) Deadlines for submission of records, reports, survey 410
instruments and undistributed [vouchers] benefits by local agencies 411
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shall be established by the department and specified in the agreement 412
entered into with the local agency. 413
[(f)] (d) The department shall develop and submit a completed 414
operations report in January in a manner prescribed by USDA -FNS 415
which summarizes the [CFM/WIC] program operations for the 416
previous year. 417
Sec. 11. Section 22 -6q of the general statutes is repealed and the 418
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 419
(a) There is established the Connecticut Farmers' Market/Senior 420
Nutrition Program which shall be provided for from funds available to 421
the commissioner and from other sources as such funds may become 422
available. The program shall supply Connecticut -grown fresh produce 423
and honey to senior participants through the distribution of [vouchers] 424
benefits that are redeemable only at designated Connecticut [farmers' 425
markets] benefit locations . For purposes of this section, a "senior 426
participant" is defined as a person who is sixty years of age or older and 427
is currently residing in elderly housing, or is a participant of a registered 428
congregate meal site, or has been identified by a municipal elderly agent 429
as being at nutritional risk. The program is designed to provide both a 430
supplemental source of fresh produce and honey for the dietary needs 431
of seniors who are [judged] determined to be at nutritional risk and to 432
stimulate an increased demand for Connecticut -grown produce and 433
honey at Connecticut [farmers' markets] benefit locations. For purposes 434
of this section, "fresh produce" means fruits and vegetables that have 435
not been processed in any manner and chicken eggs. 436
(b) The program shall be administered by the Commissioner of 437
Agriculture who shall maintain all conditions for its operations. 438
Sec. 12. Section 22 -26k of the general statutes is repealed and the 439
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 440
[(a)] There is established a farm transition grant program which shall 441
be administered by the Department of Agriculture. Matching grants 442
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shall be made to farmers and agricultural cooperatives for 443
diversification of existing farm operations, transitioning to value added 444
agricultural production and sales, and developing farmers' markets and 445
other venues in which a majority of products sold are grown in the state. 446
[(b) The Commissioner of Agriculture shall adopt regulations, in 447
accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, for the administration of 448
the program established by this section. Such regulations shall require 449
the development of business plans by applicants as part of the 450
application process.] 451
Sec. 13. Section 22 -34 of the general statutes is repealed and the 452
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 453
No person shall use any words, titles or names designated by the 454
Commissioner of Agriculture, under the provisions of sections 22-27, 22-455
28 and 22-29 [,] and subsection (b) of section 22 -31, [and section 22-33,] 456
for use in grading or marketing of farm products, unless the products 457
which he is identifying, advertising, designating or describing thereby 458
fully meet the requirements of the official grade indicated by such 459
words, titles or names. If, in the opinion of the Commissioner of 460
Agriculture or his representative, any lot or lots of such products so 461
identified, advertised, designated or described are not of the grade 462
indicated, said commissioner shall cause inspections thereof to be made 463
by regularly appointed inspectors for the purpose of determining the 464
actual grade of such products. Any person, firm or corporation which 465
violates any provision of this section shall be fined not more than fifty 466
dollars for the first offense and not more than two hundred dollars for 467
each subsequent offense. 468
Sec. 14. Subsection (b) of section 51 -164n of the 2026 supplement to 469
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 470
thereof (Effective from passage): 471
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, any person 472
who is alleged to have committed (1) a violation under the provisions of 473
section 1-9, 1-10, 1-11, 2-71h, 4b-13, 7-13, 7-14, 7-35 or 7-41, subsection (c) 474
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of section 7-66, section 7-83, 7-147h, 7-148, 7-283, 7-325, 7-393, 8-12, 8-25, 475
8-27, 9-63, 9-322, 9-350, 10-185, 10-193, 10-197, 10-198, 10-230, 10-251, 10-476
254, 10a -35, 12 -52, 12 -54, 12 -129b or 12 -170aa, subdivision (3) of 477
subsection (e) of section 12 -286, section 12 -286a, 12-292, 12-314b or 12 -478
326g, subdivision (4) of section 12 -408, subdivision (3), (5) or (6) of 479
section 12 -411, section 12 -435c, 12 -476a, 12 -476b, 12 -476c, 12 -487, 13a -480
26b, 13a-71, 13a-107, 13a-113, 13a-114, 13a-115, 13a-117b, 13a-123, 13a-481
124, 13a-139, 13a-140, 13a-143b, 13a-253, 13a-263 or 13b-39f, subsection 482
(f) of section 13b-42, section 13b-90 or 13b-100, subsection (a) of section 483
13b-108, section 13b-221 or 13b-292, subsection (a) or (b) of section 13b-484
324, section 13b -336, 13b-337, 13b-338, 13b-410a, 13b-410b or 13b -410c, 485
subsection (a), (b) or (c) of section 13b -412, section 13b -414 or 14 -4, 486
subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 14 -12, subsection (d) of 487
section 14-12, subsection (f) of section 14 -12a, subsection (a) of section 488
14-15a, section 14-16c, 14-20a or 14-27a, subsection (f) of section 14-34a, 489
subsection (d) of section 14-35, section 14-43, 14-44j, 14-49, 14-50a, 14-58 490
or 14 -62a, subsection (b) of section 14 -66, section 14 -66a or 14 -67a, 491
subsection (g) of section 14 -80, subsection (f) or (i) of section 14 -80h, 492
section 14 -97a or 14 -98, subsection (a), (b) or (d) of section 14 -100a, 493
section 14-100b, 14 -103a, 14 -106a, 14 -106c, 14 -145a, 14-146, 14 -152, 14 -494
153, 14-161 or 14-163b, subsection (f) of section 14 -164i, section 14-213b 495
or 14-219, subdivision (1) of section 14-223a, subsection (d) of section 14-496
224, section 14-240 or 14-250, subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of section 497
14-251, section 14-253a, 14-261a, 14-262, 14-264, 14-266, 14-267a, 14-269, 498
14-270, 14-272b, 14-274, 14-275 or 14 -275a, subsection (c) of section 14 -499
275c, section 14 -276, subsection (a) or (b) of section 14 -277, section 14 -500
278, 14-279 or 14-280, subsection (b), (e) or (h) of section 14 -283, section 501
14-283d, 14-283e, 14-283f, 14-283g, 14-289l, 14-291, 14-293b, 14-296aa, 14-502
298a, 14-300, 14-300d, 14-300f, 14-319, 14-320, 14-321, 14-325a, 14-326, 14-503
330 or 14-332a, subdivision (1), (2) or (3) of section 14 -386a, section 15-504
15e, 15 -25 or 15 -33, subdivision (1) of section 15 -97, subsection (a) of 505
section 15 -115, section 16 -15, 16 -16, 16 -44, 16 -256e, 16 -278 or 16a -15, 506
subsection (a) of section 16a -21, section 16a -22, subsection (a) or (b) of 507
section 16a -22h, section 16a -106, 17a -24, 17a -145, 17a -149 or 17a -152, 508
subsection (b) of section 17a -227, section 17a -465, subsection (c) of 509
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sSB149 / File No. 74 18

section 17a-488, section 17b-124, 17b-131, 17b-137, 19a-33, 19a-39 or 19a-510
87, subsection (b) of section 19a-87a, section 19a-91, 19a-102a, 19a-102b, 511
19a-105, 19a-107, 19a-113, 19a-215, 19a-216a, 19a-219, 19a-222, 19a-224, 512
19a-286, 19a -287, 19a -297, 19a -301, 19a -309, 19a -335, 19a -336, 19a -338, 513
19a-339, 19a -340, 19a -425, 19a -442, 19a -502, 19a -565, 20 -7a, 20 -14, 20 -514
153a, 20-158, 20-231, 20-233, 20-249, 20-257, 20-265, 20-324e, 20-329c or 515
20-329g, subsection (b) of section 20-334, section 20-341l, 20-366, 20-482, 516
20-597, 20-608, 20-610, 20-623, 21-1, 21-38, 21-39, 21-43, 21-47, 21-48 or 517
21-63, subsection (d) of section 21 -71, section 21 -76a or 21 -100, 518
subsection (c) of section 21a-2, subdivision (1) of section 21a-19, section 519
21a-20 or 21a -21, subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 21a -25, 520
section 21a-26, subsection (a) of section 21a -37, section 21a -46, 21a-61, 521
21a-63, 21a-70b or 21a-77, subsection (b) or (c) of section 21a-79, section 522
21a-85 or 21a -154, subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 21a -159, 523
section 21a-278b, subsection (c), (d) or (e) of section 21a -279a, section 524
21a-415a, 21a-421eee, 21a-421fff or 21a-421hhh, subsection (a) of section 525
21a-430, section 22-12b, 22-13, 22-14, 22-15, 22-16, 22-26g, 22-30, 22-34, as 526
amended by this act, 22-35, 22-36, 22-38, 22-39, 22-39f, 22-49, [22-54,] 22-527
61j or 22 -61l, subdivision (1) of subsection (n) of section 22 -61l, 528
subsection (f) of section 22 -61m, subdivision (1) of subsection (f) of 529
section 22-61m, section 22-84, 22-89, 22-90, 22-96, 22-98, 22-99, 22-100 or 530
22-111o, subsection (d) of section 22 -118l, section 22-167, subsection (c) 531
of section 22 -277, section 22 -278, 22-279, 22-280a, 22-318a, 22-320h, 22-532
324a or 22-326, subsection (b), subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (e) or 533
subsection (g) of section 22-344, subsection (a) or (b) of section 22 -344b, 534
subsection (d) of section 22 -344d, section 22 -344f, 22 -350a, 22 -354, 22 -535
359, 22-366, 22-391, 22-413, 22-414, 22-415, 22-415c, 22a-66a or 22a -246, 536
subsection (a) of section 22a -250, section 22a -256g, subsection (e) of 537
section 22a-256h, section 22a-363 or 22a-381d, subsections (c) and (d) of 538
section 22a-381e, section 22a -449, 22a-450, 22a-461, 23-4b, 23-38, 23-45, 539
23-46 or 23 -61b, subsection (a) or subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of 540
section 23 -65, section 25 -37 or 25 -40, subsection (a) of section 25 -43, 541
section 25-43d, 25-135, 26-18, 26-19, 26-21, 26-31, 26-40, 26-40a, 26-42, 26-542
43, 26-49, 26-54, 26-55, 26-56, 26-58 or 26-59, subdivision (1) of subsection 543
(d) of section 26 -61, section 26 -64, subdivision (1) of section 26 -76, 544
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sSB149 / File No. 74 19

section 26-79, 26-87, 26-89, 26-91, 26-94, 26-97, 26-98, 26-104, 26-105, 26-545
107, 26-114a, 26-117, subsection (b) of section 26-127, 26-128, 26-128a, 26-546
131, 26-132, 26-138, 26-139 or 26 -141, subdivision (1) of section 26 -186, 547
section 26-207, 26-215, 26-217 or 26 -224a, subdivision (1) of section 26 -548
226, section 26 -227, 26-230, 26-231, 26-232, 26-244, 26-257a, 26-260, 26-549
276, 26-280, 26-284, 26-285, 26-286, 26-287, 26-288, 26-290, 26-291a, 26-550
292, 26-294, 27-107, 28-13, 29-6a, 29-16, 29-17, 29-25, 29-143o, 29-143z or 551
29-156a, subsection (b), (d), (e), (g) or (h) of section 29 -161q, section 29-552
161y or 29-161z, subdivision (1) of section 29-198, section 29-210, 29-243 553
or 29 -277, subsection (c) of section 29 -291c, section 29 -316 or 29 -318, 554
subsection (b) of section 29-335a, section 29-381, 30-19f, 30-48a or 30-86a, 555
subsection (b) of section 30 -89, subsection (c) or (d) of section 30 -117, 556
section 31-3, 31-10, 31-11, 31-12, 31-13, 31-14, 31-15, 31-16, 31-18, 31-23, 557
31-24, 31-25, 31-32, 31-36, 31-47 or 31-48, subsection (b) of section 31-48b, 558
section 31-51, 31-51g, 31-52, 31-52a, 31-53 or 31-54, subsection (a) or (c) 559
of section 31-69, section 31-70, 31-74, 31-75, 31-76, 31-76a, 31-89b or 31-560
134, subsection (i) of section 31 -273, section 31 -288, 31-348, 33-624, 33-561
1017, 34-13d or 34-412, subdivision (1) of section 35-20, subsection (a) of 562
section 36a-57, subsection (b) of section 36a -665, section 36a -699, 36a -563
739, 36a-787, 38a-2 or 38a -140, subsection (a) or (b) of section 38a -278, 564
section 38a-479qq, 38a-479rr, 38a-506, 38a-548, 38a-626, 38a-680, 38a-713, 565
38a-733, 38a-764, 38a-786, 38a-828, 38a-829, 38a-885, 42-133hh, 42-470 or 566
42-480, subsection (a) or (c) of section 43 -16q, section 45a -283, 45a-450, 567
45a-634 or 45a-658, subdivision (13) or (14) of section 46a-54, section 46a-568
59, 46a -81b, 46b -22, 46b -24, 46b -34, 46b -38d, 47 -34a, 47 -47 or 47 -53, 569
subsection (i) of section 47a -21, subdivision (1) of subsection (k) of 570
section 47a-21, section 49 -2a, 49-8a, 49-16, 52-143 or 52 -289, subsection 571
(j) of section 52-362, section 53-133, 53-199, 53-212a, 53-249a, 53-252, 53-572
264, 53-280, 53-290a, 53-302a, 53-303e, 53-311a, 53-314, 53-321, 53-322, 53-573
323 or 53 -331, subsection (b) of section 53 -343a, section 53 -344, 574
subsection (b) or (c) of section 53-344b, subsection (b) of section 53-345a, 575
section 53-377, 53-422 or 53-450 or subsection (i) of section 54-36a, or (2) 576
a violation under the provisions of chapter 268, or (3) a violation of any 577
regulation adopted in accordance with the provisions of section 12-484, 578
12-487 or 13b -410, or (4) a violation of any ordinance, regulation or 579
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sSB149 / File No. 74 20

bylaw of any town, city or borough, except violations of building codes, 580
the health code or an ordinance described in subdivision (5) of this 581
subsection, for which the penalty exceeds ninety dollars but does not 582
exceed two hundred fifty dollars, unless such town, city or borough has 583
established a payment and hearing procedure for such violation 584
pursuant to section 7 -152c, or (5) a violation of any ordinance adopted 585
by a town, city or borough pursuant to section 14 -224a, 14-390 or 14 -586
390m for which the penalty does not exceed two thousand dollars, 587
unless such town, city or borough has established a payment and 588
hearing procedure for such violation pursuant to section 7 -152c, shall 589
follow the procedures set forth in this section. 590
Sec. 15. Section 22 -33 and sections 22 -50 to 22 -54, inclusive, of the 591
general statutes are repealed. (Effective from passage) 592
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 from passage 22-6g
Sec. 2 from passage 22-6h
Sec. 3 from passage 22-6i
Sec. 4 from passage 22-6j
Sec. 5 from passage 22-6k
Sec. 6 from passage 22-6l
Sec. 7 from passage 22-6m
Sec. 8 from passage 22-6n
Sec. 9 from passage 22-6o
Sec. 10 from passage 22-6p
Sec. 11 from passage 22-6q
Sec. 12 from passage 22-26k
Sec. 13 from passage 22-34
Sec. 14 from passage 51-164n(b)
Sec. 15 from passage Repealer section

Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 3(b)(5), "four-year period" was changed to "[four-year] three-
year period" for consistency.

ENV Joint Favorable Subst.

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sSB149 / File No. 74 21

The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of
the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not
represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general,
fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional
knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final
products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill makes various changes to the Farmers’ Market Nutrition
Program, which conforms current practice to law and does not result in
a fiscal impact.
The Out Years
State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None

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sSB149 / File No. 74 22

OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 149

AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO THE FARMERS' MARKET
NUTRITION PROGRAM.

SUMMARY
This bill makes various changes to the Department of Agriculture’s
(DoAg) Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP). By law, the FMNP
generally gives (1) people eligible for the Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) an d (2)
low-income people age 60 or older funds to buy eligible Connecticut -
grown fresh produce and chicken eggs. Under the bill, FMNP
participants may also use program benefits to buy honey.
The bill makes many minor, technical, and conforming changes.
Among other things, it changes specific FMNP statutory definitions and
terminology to align with program modernizations, including a
transition to electronic benefits and expansion of eligible b enefit
redemption locations, and DoAg’s current practices. Additionally, the
bill allows, rather than requires as under current law, the FMNP to be
jointly funded by Connecticut and the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). Under current federal law, FNS gives
grants to state agencies to administer the FMNP. The bill also eliminates
a statutorily defined benefit amount of five $3 vouchers issued to each
program participant in a distribution period, and instead requires DoAg
to annually set the benefit amount each FMNP participant will get based
on the federal and state allocation for the given program year.
Lastly, the bill makes changes to three other DoAg programs.
Specifically, it eliminates the requirement that the DoAg commissioner
adopt regulations to administer the farm transition grant program. In
practice, the department issues annual program guidance to administer
the program instead. It also repeals two defunct programs: the (1)
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sSB149 / File No. 74 23

Connecticut Quality Seal Program, which ensured quality and
authenticity of Connecticut -produced products, and (2) Apple
Marketing Order program, which promoted the sale of apples and apple
products and related market research in the state. In practice, bo th
programs’ goals were largely incorporated into DoAg’s active CT
Grown campaign.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
TRANSITION TO ELECTRONIC BENEFITS
The bill makes changes to FMNP statutes to reflect the modern use of
electronic benefits rather than paper vouchers, including replacing
references to “vouchers” with “benefits.”
To align with DoAg’s current practice of coupling FMNP benefit
distribution with WIC benefit distribution, made possible by the
transition to electronic benefits, the bill also changes the definition of a
“local WIC agency” to be an entity that contracts w ith the Department
of Public Health to administer the WIC program and distribute WIC
benefits to participants (rather than an entity contracting with DoAg to
distribute FMNP vouchers, as under current law). Correspondingly, it
eliminates obsolete procedures for the WIC agency to verify a program
participant’s identity when distributing paper vouchers. The bill also
reduces, from four years to three years, the period that local WIC
agencies must generally keep FMNP-related records.
The bill also eliminates the requirement for authorized vendors to
have a DoAg-issued certified vendor number and use a certified vendor
identification stamp on deposited benefit vouchers, and it eliminates a
process for vendors to deposit any vouchers they accepted. Similarly, it
eliminates the requirement for program participants to countersign a
voucher before using it.
EXPANDED BENEFIT REDEMPTION LOCATIONS AND VENDOR
CERTIFICATION PROCESS
The bill replaces “authorized farmers’ market” with “authorized
benefit location” in FMNP statutes to reflect an expansion of approved
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sSB149 / File No. 74 24

benefit redemption locations to include farm stands and mobile
markets, in addition to farmers’ markets. It also replaces “vendors” with
“farmers.”
The bill also makes changes to the requirements a vendor must meet
to become certified to accept FMNP benefits. Under existing law, to
become certified a vendor must attend a training on FMNP rules and
procedures. The bill adds the requirement that vendors also complete
an annual online learning module and get a passing score on a
knowledge test. Existing law also requires vendors to submit a
completed application and crop plan before becoming certified to accept
benefits. The bill specifies that they must do so using a form and process
DoAg creates. Lastly, the bill eliminates the requirement for vendors to
submit to DoAg a signed (1) receipt of a vendor certification handbook
and (2) certified vendor agreement before accepting FMNP benefits.
The bill also eliminates a process for the DoAg commissioner to
determine whether to authorize a farmers’ market to accept FMNP
benefits based on how many vendors apply to participate in the market.
In practice, this process was made obsolete by the benefit redemption
location expansion and transition to a system that allows individual
vendors to accept FMNP benefits . Correspondingly, the bill eliminates
the obsolete law making it a violation for vendors to cash vouchers for
a noncertified market, as this i s not possible under the modern benefit
redemption system.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Environment Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 33 Nay 0 (03/04/2026)