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Panel clears bill to expand liability protection for donated food past date labels
Summary
The House Judiciary Committee unanimously reported House Bill 615, which would expand civil and criminal immunity for donors who give food past manufacturer date labels but still fit for consumption, provided donors make a good-faith evaluation; the bill takes effect immediately.
The House Judiciary Committee unanimously reported House Bill 615, which would expand the donated-food liability protections to cover food that has passed a manufacturer’s labeled date but remains fit for human consumption, provided the donor makes a good-faith evaluation that the food is safe.
Committee counsel described the change as an amendment to the Donated Food Liability Limited Liability Act and said immunity would not apply if damages result from a donor’s negligence, recklessness, intentional misconduct, or where the donor had actual or constructive knowledge that food was tainted or harmful. Counsel said the bill takes effect immediately and carries no amendments in committee.
Sponsors — Representatives Khan and Tom Jones — described the bill as bipartisan and supported by the administration and the hunger caucus. Khan said the measure addresses food insecurity and food waste by allowing food banks and stores to donate excess items that are past peak freshness but still safe to eat. “This bill addresses food waste, but most critically, it addresses food insecurity by helping these families get access to this food that is good,” Khan said.
Representative Kinkade, chair of the hunger caucus, urged colleagues to attend a follow-up conversation with the charitable food network and noted increasing food insecurity and federal uncertainties around SNAP and other funding.
The committee recorded a unanimous vote to report the bill to the floor.
