CA AB605

Establishes the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable Supplemental Benefits Expansion Program to enroll authorized retailers in providing supplemental benefits (additional EBT funds) to CalFresh recipients who purchase fresh fruits and vegetables.

Creates the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Expansion Fund and allocates initial funding: $40,000,000 for large retailers (over 50 locations or $50M+ annual CalFresh sales), $20,000,000 for small retailers (50 or fewer locations or $50M or less annual CalFresh sales), and $30,000,000 for direct farm-to-consumer outlets like farmers markets.

Requires the Department of Social Services to contract with vendors to develop at least two wireless technology solutions for accepting EBT and offering supplemental benefits, with up to $750,000 allocated for this purpose.

Provides up to $1,000,000 in grants to small retailers for technological upgrades and up to $1,000,000 to the Department of Food and Agriculture for a grant program to recruit and train authorized retailers.

Requires the department to submit progress reports to the Legislature and quarterly publish program utilization data; all unencumbered state funds revert to the General Fund if reports are not submitted or if expansion is recommended to stop.