SB 401 — AN ACT CONCERNING A BRIDGE PROGRAM TO ALLOW ACCESS TO FOOD, HOUSING AND HEALTH CARE BENEFITS.

Senate General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

401660 February Session, 2026 LCOSenate Bill No.

2582401 ReferredSenate, toApril 16, 2026 The Committee on APPROPRIATIONSAppropriations Introducedreported by:through SEN.

(APP)OSTEN ANof ACTthe CONCERNING19th ADist., BRIDGEChairperson PROGRAMof TOthe ALLOWCommittee ACCESSon TOthe FOOD,part HOUSINGof ANDthe HEALTHSenate, CAREthat BENEFITS.the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING A BRIDGE PROGRAM TO ALLOW ACCESS TO FOOD, HOUSING AND HEALTH CARE BENEFITS.

(b) Not later than October 1, 2026, the Commissioner of Social Services, in collaboration with the Commissioners of Aging and Disability Services, Children and Families, Housing and Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Labor Commissioner, shall develop a plan for a bridge program to provide state-funded medical assistance, nutritionSB401 assistance,/ supportiveFile housing and employment assistance LCO 2582 1 of 3 Raised Bill No.

401660 programs1 toSB401 vulnerableFile persons.No.

660 nutrition assistance, supportive housing and employment assistance programs to vulnerable persons.

LCOSB401 2582/ 2File of 3 Raised Bill No.

401660 Section2 1SB401 fromFile passageNo. New section APP Joint Favorable LCO 2582 3 of 3

660 Section 1 from passage New section APP Joint Favorable SB401 / File No.

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660 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill, which requires the Department of Social Services to collaboratewithvariousagenciestodevelopaplanforabridgeprogram to provide state-funded medical, nutrition, and employment assistance as well as supportive housing to vulnerable persons and report to relevant committees by 1/1/27, has no fiscal impact as the agency has the necessary expertise to do so.

The Out Years State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None SB401 / File No.

660 4 SB401 File No.

660 OFA Bill Analysis SB 401 AN ACT CONCERNING A BRIDGE PROGRAM TO ALLOW ACCESS TO FOOD, HOUSING AND HEALTH CARE BENEFITS.

SUMMARY:

The bill requires the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services (DSS), in collaboration with the Departments of Aging and Disability Services, Children and Families, Housing, Mental Health and Addiction Services and Labor, to develop a plan for a bridge program to provide state-funded medical assistance, nutrition assistance, supportive housing and employment assistance programs to vulnerable persons.

DSS must submit the plan, a calculation of state appropriations necessary for implementation and the associated timeline for such, to the Appropriations, Human Services, Housing and Labor committees by January 1, 2027.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

from passage State-Funded Bridge Program The bill requires that the bridge program serve vulnerable persons and do the following:

1.

Supplement job training and employment services offered by the state to assist with meeting federal work requirements and transitions from permanent supportive housing programs;

2.

Provide transitional state-funded medical assistance, nutrition assistance and housing assistance at the same level as prior to changes in federal law and proposed changes in federal regulations;

3.

Recommend long-term housing solutions, including an inventory SB401 / File No.

660 5 SB401 File No.

660 of state-owned property that may be suitable for renovation and repurposing to provide housing assistance;

and 4.

Require uniform documentation of employability after receiving employment assistance, for purposes of submission to the federal government for potential federal waivers of work requirements.

Vulnerable Persons Under the bill, “vulnerable persons” include veterans, homeless persons or persons at risk of homelessness, adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, young adults aging out of the foster care system and persons age fifty-five to sixty-four who are at risk of losing benefits under the Medicaid and supplemental nutrition assistance programs and permanent supportive housing assistance due to changes in work requirements pursuant to P.L.

119-21 and proposed changes to United States Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations.