The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 382, aims to establish protocols for the donation of surplus edible food by retail food establishments to food distribution organizations in Connecticut. The bill defines key terms such as "food distribution organization," "food recovery service," "retail food establishment," and "surplus edible food." It mandates that by January 1, 2027, the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, in collaboration with the Commissioner of Public Health, must develop and implement guidelines for these establishments to facilitate the donation process. These guidelines will be made available on the Department of Consumer Protection's website.

Additionally, the bill requires each retail food establishment to report its surplus food donations to the Commissioner of Consumer Protection annually, starting January 1, 2028. The Commissioner is then tasked with compiling these reports and providing an annual summary to the relevant legislative committees. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2026, and introduces new legal language while deleting unnecessary provisions from current law. The overall goal of the bill is to enhance food recovery efforts and reduce food waste in the state.