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Senate
sSB382 / File No. 55 1
General Assembly File No. 55
February Session, 2026 Substitute Senate Bill No. 382
Senate, March 18, 2026
The Committee on Public Health reported through SEN.
ANWAR of the 3rd Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the
part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
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
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(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
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.
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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 pur pose. 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:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $
Consumer Protection, Dept. GF - Cost 60,655 78,206
State Comptroller - Fringe
Benefits1
GF - Cost 22,821 30,427
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill requires the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) to
develop and implement guidelines for supermarkets to donate surplus
food, resulting in a cost to the state. To meet the requirements of the bill
DCP will have to hire one food inspector for a salary and other expenses
cost of $60,655 in FY 272 and $78,206 in FY 28, along with a fringe benefit
cost of $22,821 in FY 27 and $30,427 in FY 28. The additional employee
will be needed to respond to inquiries from retailers and food donors,
provide technical assistance, collect and review the supermark et food
donation reports, and annually report to the Public Health and General
Law committees.
1The fringe benefit costs for most state employees are budgeted centrally in accounts
administered by the Comptroller. The estimated active employee fringe benefit cost
associated with most personnel changes is 41.82% of payroll in FY 27.
2Costs in FY 27 reflect nine months of expenditures due to the bills October 1, 2026,
effective date.
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The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to employee wage increases and
inflation.
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OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 382
AN ACT CONCERNING EDIBLE FOOD RECOVERY.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) to
develop and implement guidelines for supermarkets to donate surplus
edible food to nonprofit food distribution organizations using a food
recovery service that transports the food to these o rganizations
throughout the state. DCP must (1) do so by January 1, 2027, and in
consultation with the Department of Public Health and (2) post the
guidelines on its website.
Under the bill, “surplus edible food” is food meant for humans that
(1) is unsold due to surplus, cosmetic appearance, its nearing expiration
date, or damaged packaging that does not compromise food safety, and
(2) meets all applicable food safety standards. The bill applies to in-state
supermarkets with at least 15,000 square feet of retail space.
Under the bill, starting by January 1, 2028, each supermarket must
annually report to DCP on its surplus edible food donations under these
guidelines. Starting by February 1, 2028, DCP must annually report on
these donations to the Public Health and General Law committees.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2026
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Health Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 21 Nay 10 (03/09/2026)