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SB 1418 Connecticut Senate · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT REDUCING BARRIERS TO FOOD SECURITY.

SB 1418 requires Connecticut's Commissioner of Social Services to seek a Medicaid waiver covering "food as medicine" (prescribed healthy foods for medical conditions) by July 2025, with a report due by January 2026 on its impact. It also increases the minimum monthly supplemental nutrition benefit to $95 and creates a farmers' market incentive program: SNAP recipients get a $1 credit for every $1 spent on fresh produce at certified markets (capped at $50 monthly). The bill directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries and SNAP recipients by expanding access to healthy food through healthcare and nutrition programs. Key provisions take effect July 1, 2025, with the incentive program launching by September 1, 2025.
Issues: ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirectly expands Medicaid coverage for 'food as medicine' (prescribed healthy foods for medical conditions), enhancing healthcare access through nutrition-based treatment programs.95% confidence
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 27, 2025 Last action May 7, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → HS Joint Favorable Substitute · 8 edits
MODERATE
This bill was significantly rewritten to shift focus from general food security grants to a 'food as medicine' Medicaid program and a healthy food incentive. The original version created a funding account and grant program for food security hubs, while the substitute version adds Medicaid coverage for food as medicine and creates a $1-for-$1 matching program for SNAP beneficiaries purchasing fresh produce at farmers' markets.
Scope change
The bill's scope changed from creating a new food security fund and grant program to establishing Medicaid coverage for food as medicine and a specific incentive program for SNAP recipients buying fresh produce.
FISCAL

Added Medicaid waiver application to provide coverage for food as medicine treatments

Removed creation of Connecticut Food Security Fund and deposit of 1% of prepared meal taxes into the account

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for commissioner to file report on Medicaid beneficiaries receiving food as medicine by January 1, 2026

Removed grant program for establishing food security hubs and related reporting requirements

ELIGIBILITY

Added healthy food incentive program giving $1 in SNAP benefits for every $1 spent on fresh produce at certified farmers' markets, up to $50 monthly

DEFINITION

Added definition of 'food as medicine' referencing existing statute section 17b-790c

TIMELINE

Added effective date of July 1, 2025 for new Medicaid coverage and incentive program provisions

SCOPE

Changed from general food security focus to specific 'food as medicine' and farmers' market incentive focus

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
2
Committee
3
May 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Joint Favorable
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Human Services
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.