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HB 5994

AN ACT CONCERNING THE SALES AND USE TAXES IMPOSED ON MEALS SOLD BY AN EATING ESTABLISHMENT, CATERER OR GROCERY STORE.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Aundré Bumgardner

Connecticut bill modifies sales tax on prepared meals from restaurants, caterers, and grocers, affecting consumer costs and state revenue collections.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Finance, Revenue and Bonding
#cateringestablishments #grocerystores #meals #municipalities #restaurants #salesandusetax
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Bill Summary · HB 5994

Legislative bill overview

HB 5994 modifies Connecticut's sales and use tax treatment for meals sold by eating establishments, caterers, and grocery stores. The bill adjusts which food sales are subject to state sales tax and potentially revises the tax rate or exemptions applied to prepared foods and meal services.

Why is this important

Food tax policy directly affects consumer grocery bills, restaurant prices, and the state's tax revenue. Changes to meal taxation impact both low-income households' food affordability and business operating costs across the food service industry, while also influencing state budget projections.

Potential points of contention

  • Regressivity concerns: Sales taxes on food disproportionately burden lower-income households who spend larger portions of their income on meals
  • Business competitiveness: Differential tax treatment between grocery stores, restaurants, and caterers could unfairly advantage or disadvantage specific food service sectors
  • Revenue implications: Expanding or narrowing the tax base for meal sales directly affects state revenue needed for services, creating a tradeoff between tax relief and fiscal capacity

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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