Assembly BillChaptered/SignedWelfare and Institutions
AB 553: CalFresh: food access.
What AB 553 does, verified December 7, 2025
This bill aims to improve food choices for recipients of a state-funded food assistance program. The state department of social services would be required to maximize all available food choices for these recipients, including hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption, as specified by federal law.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
✓In CommitteeComplete
✓First Chamber FloorComplete
✓Second ChamberComplete
✓GovernorComplete
6ChapteredCurrent
Last action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 38, Statutes of 2025. (2025-07-03)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions22 total · showing 5
| Jul. 14, 2025 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 38, Statutes of 2025. |
| Jul. 14, 2025 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Jul. 11, 2025 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m. |
| Jul. 03, 2025 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 35. Noes 0. Page 1932.). |
| Jul. 03, 2025 | In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling. |
Latest bill textChaptered version, July 14, 2025 · 341 words
Assembly Bill No. 553
CHAPTER 38
An act to amend Section 18919.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to CalFresh.
[ Approved by Governor July 14, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State July 14, 2025. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 553, Caloza. CalFresh: food access.
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.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 18919.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:18919.1.
(a) 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.(b) 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.
Text of AB 553 as chaptered, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions