Bills › 91st General Assembly
Limiting liability for food distributors who donate food to charitable or nonprofit organizations or certain government entities
Sponsored by the Senate State Government Committee, Sen. Adrian Dickey (R)
Topics:Business & economyFamilies & human services
Same legislation: SF 359
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 18, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 20, 2025
- Done: Senate committeeMarch 10, 2025
- Done: Passes the SenateMarch 24, 202549–0
- Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary People who donate food to charities, schools, or certain government groups won't get in legal trouble as long as they act in good faith. This protection applies to businesses like restaurants, food manufacturers, and food distributors. The organizations receiving the food must then give it away for free to people in need or use it for free educational programs.1
Read the official explanation
1 providing that a person is exempt from criminal or civil liability for donating food to a charitable or nonprofit organization or to the department of natural resources or a county conservation board so long as the person is acting in good faith. The charitable or nonprofit organization must distribute the food free to needy individuals. The department of natural resources or a county conservation board must use the food as part of a free interpretive educational program. The Code section includes a list of persons who are expressly granted the exemption, including a gleaner, restaurant, food establishment, food service establishment, school, manufacturer of foodstuffs, or meat or poultry processing establishment. The bill provides that a food distributor is included in the list.
House subcommittee
Named March 27, 2025. Meeting: Tuesday, April 1 · 12:00 PM · RM 304.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
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91st General Assembly