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Measure AB 553
Authors Caloza  
Coauthors: Calderon  
Subject CalFresh: food access.
Relating To relating to CalFresh.
Title An act to amend Section 18919.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to CalFresh.
Last Action Dt 2025-07-14
State Chaptered
Status Chaptered
Active? Y
Vote Required Majority
Appropriation No
Fiscal Committee Yes
Local Program No
Substantive Changes None
Urgency No
Tax Levy No
Leginfo Link Bill
Actions
2025-07-14     Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 38, Statutes of 2025.
2025-07-14     Approved by the Governor.
2025-07-11     Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.
2025-07-03     In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
2025-07-03     Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 35. Noes 0. Page 1932.).
2025-07-01     Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-06-30     From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-06-17     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.
2025-05-07     Referred to Com. on HUMAN S.
2025-04-24     In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-04-24     Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 75. Noes 0. Page 1276.)
2025-04-10     Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-04-09     From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 9).
2025-03-26     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.
2025-03-26     Coauthors revised.
2025-03-18     Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.
2025-03-17     From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. Read second time and amended.
2025-02-24     Referred to Com. on HUM. S.
2025-02-12     From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.
2025-02-11     Read first time. To print.
Keywords
Tags
Versions
Chaptered     2025-07-14
Enrolled     2025-07-08
Amended Assembly     2025-03-17
Introduced     2025-02-11
Last Version Text 
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		<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Caloza</ns0:AuthorText>
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		<ns0:Title> An act to amend Section 18919.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to CalFresh.</ns0:Title>
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			<ns0:Subject>CalFresh: food access.</ns0:Subject>
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			<html:p>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.</html:p>
			<html:p>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.</html:p>
			<html:p>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.</html:p>
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				Section 18919.1 of the 
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				 is amended to read:
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								(a)
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								It is the intent of the Legislature to maximize food access for all CalFresh recipients. Many of the hungriest Californians who rely on CalFresh to eat face the most significant barriers, including the lack of kitchen facilities or means of preparing and cooking meals with groceries, special dietary needs, or specific foods required for medications, among other factors that strain the ability of traditional groceries to meet their needs. It is further the intent of the Legislature to maximize the dignity and equitable treatment of Californians using CalFresh to purchase food by maximizing food choices.
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								The State Department of Social Services shall
				  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 Section 3(k) of the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.
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Last Version Text Digest 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.