Connecticut legislation · 2026 General Assembly
Connecticut HB5537: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY WAYS TO FUND A UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM.
Status: In committee, April 15, 2026
What the bill says
An act imposing a tax on certain sweetened beverages, syrups and powders and dedicating the revenue generated to a universal free school meals program. assembly convened.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT IMPOSING A TAX ON CERTAIN SWEETENED BEVERAGES, SYRUPS AND POWDERS AND DEDICATING THE REVENUE GENERATED TO A UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM. Assembly convened: Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section: (1) "Distributor" means any person that receives, stores, manufactures or distributes sweetened beverages, syrups or powders, for sale to retailers doing business in the state; (2) "Fruit juice" means the original liquid resulting from the pressing of fruits or the liquid resulting from the dilution with water of dehydrated fruit juice; (3) "Medical beverage" means any (A) medical food, as defined in USC 360ee, as amended from time to time, (B) product in liquid form that is (i) designed as oral nutrition therapy for individuals who may have a limited ability to absorb or metabolize dietary nutrients from traditional food or beverages, or (ii) an oral rehydration electrolyte LCO No. 2830 1 of Raised Bill No. 5537 solution to prevent or treat dehydration, and (C) product sold in liquid form that is designed as supplemental, meal replacement or sole-source nutrition and includes proteins, carbohydrates and multiple vitamins and minerals; (4) "Milk-based beverage" means any nonalcoholic beverage that contains at least fifty per cent dairy ingredients by volume, including milk, cream, yogurt, kefir or other dairy-derived products, regardless of butterfat content or added …
Sponsors
- Anne Hughes (D, 135) · primary sponsor
- Mary Mushinsky (D, 85)
- Aimee Berger-Girvalo (D, 111)
- Michael Shannon (D, 117)
Latest actions
- : File Number 643
- : House Calendar Number 434
- : Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
- : Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
- : Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/14/26 5:00 PM
- : Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
- : Joint Favorable Substitute
- : Public Hearing 03/16
- : Referred to Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding
Votes
- FIN Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute) (March 30, 2026): 36 yea, 18 nay, passed
Subjects: Electronic government information, Taxation, School meals, Beverages, Boards of education, Education Department
Common questions
- What is HB5537?
- HB5537 is a bill in the Connecticut Legislature (2026 General Assembly): AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY WAYS TO FUND A UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM.
- What does HB5537 do?
- In its own words: An act imposing a tax on certain sweetened beverages, syrups and powders and dedicating the revenue generated to a universal free school meals program. assembly convened.
- What is the status of HB5537?
- In committee as of April 15, 2026. Latest action: File Number 643 (April 15, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB5537?
- Anne Hughes (D, 135), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB5537?
- On the Connecticut Legislature website: https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB05537&which_year=2026
Source: official Connecticut record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.