# Connecticut HB 05537: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY WAYS TO FUND A UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM.

Connecticut HB 05537, AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY WAYS TO FUND A UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee; status failed, last action 2026-04-15 (File Number 643) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-HB05537-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Connecticut HB 05537
- State: Connecticut
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY WAYS TO FUND A UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-03-11
- Last action: 2026-04-15, File Number 643
- Sponsor: Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee
- Cosponsors: 4
- Subjects: finance, revenue and bonding
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (0 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

To impose a tax on certain sweetened beverages, syrups and powders and dedicate the revenue generated to a universal free school meals program to reimburse local and regional boards of education for the provision of free school breakfasts and lunches to all public school students.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee
- Cosponsor: Aimee Berger-Girvalo (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Anne M. Hughes (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mary M. Mushinsky (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Michael "MJ" Shannon (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-30 | House | FIN Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute) | pass |   |   |   |

## Actions (9)

- 2026-04-15: File Number 643 (legislature)
- 2026-04-15: House Calendar Number 434 (House)
- 2026-04-15: Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House (House)
- 2026-04-15: Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office (legislature)
- 2026-04-09: Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/14/26 5:00 PM (legislature)
- 2026-04-01: Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office (legislature)
- 2026-03-30: Joint Favorable Substitute (legislature)
- 2026-03-12: Public Hearing 03/16 (legislature)
- 2026-03-11: Referred to Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding (legislature)

## Bill text

- File No. 643, 2026-04-15: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/FC/PDF/2026HB-05537-R000643-FC.PDF)
- FIN Joint Favorable Substitute, 2026-03-30: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/H/PDF/2026HB-05537-R01-HB.PDF)
- Raised Bill, 2026-03-11: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/H/PDF/2026HB-05537-R00-HB.PDF)
- Bill Analysis For File Copy 643: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/BA/PDF/2026HB-05537-R000643-BA.PDF)
- FIN Joint Fav. Rpt: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/JFR/H/PDF/2026HB-05537-R00FIN-JFR.PDF)
- FIN Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute): [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TS/H/PDF/2026HB-05537-R00FIN-CV34-TS.PDF)
- Fiscal Note For File Copy 643: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/FN/PDF/2026HB-05537-R000643-FN.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB 05563: AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS CRIMINAL LAW AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROPOSALS, CERTIFICATES OF APPROVAL FOR AIRPORTS, HELIPORTS, VERTIPORTS, RESTRICTED LANDING AREAS A… (signed)
- HB 05509: AN ACT CONCERNING JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. (signed)
- HB 05518: AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING SUBSURFACE SEWAGE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, WATER OPERATOR APPRENTICES AND VARIOUS RE… (signed)
- HB 05442: AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR AND TAX AGREEMENTS RELATED TO CERTAIN CLASS I RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES. (signed)
- HB 05349: AN ACT CONCERNING A POLICE OFFICER TRAINING PROGRAM AND THE ROUNDING OF CERTAIN CASH PURCHASES. (signed)
- HB 05340: AN ACT CONCERNING RENEWABLE POWER GENERATION. (signed)

## Sources
- [File No. 643 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/FC/PDF/2026HB-05537-R000643-FC.PDF)
- [FIN Joint Favorable Substitute (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/H/PDF/2026HB-05537-R01-HB.PDF)
- [Raised Bill (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/H/PDF/2026HB-05537-R00-HB.PDF)
- [Bill Analysis For File Copy 643 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/BA/PDF/2026HB-05537-R000643-BA.PDF)
- [FIN Joint Fav. Rpt (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/JFR/H/PDF/2026HB-05537-R00FIN-JFR.PDF)
- [FIN Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute) (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TS/H/PDF/2026HB-05537-R00FIN-CV34-TS.PDF)
- [Fiscal Note For File Copy 643 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/FN/PDF/2026HB-05537-R000643-FN.PDF)

## Related
- [HB 05563: AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS CRIMINAL LAW AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROPOSALS, CERTIFIC…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-HB05563-2026)
- [HB 05509: AN ACT CONCERNING JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-HB05509-2026)
- [HB 05518: AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING S…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-HB05518-2026)
- [HB 05442: AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR AND TAX AGREEMENTS RELATED TO…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-HB05442-2026)
- [HB 05349: AN ACT CONCERNING A POLICE OFFICER TRAINING PROGRAM AND THE ROUNDING OF CERTAIN…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-HB05349-2026)
- [HB 05340: AN ACT CONCERNING RENEWABLE POWER GENERATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-HB05340-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-HB05537-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).