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Easier Food Donations: New Rules for Donors and Recipients

New regulations make it easier for businesses and institutions to donate surplus food to those in need, even for a symbolic fee. These changes protect donors from legal liability, encouraging greater generosity and reducing food waste. As a result, more people in need can receive safe food.
Key points
Donors can now provide food for free or at a reduced price covering handling costs.
The list of entities that can directly donate food to needy individuals has been expanded, including restaurants, schools, and universities.
Donors are protected from legal liability for the quality of donated food if they act in good faith.
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Status: Became Law
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_S_5329
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Process start date: 2022-12-20
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure — full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source—always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

A bill to amend the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act to improve the program, and for other purposes.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_S_5329.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2022-12-20.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Donors can now provide food for free or at a reduced price covering handling costs.
  • The list of entities that can directly donate food to needy individuals has been expanded, including restaurants, schools, and universities.
  • Donors are protected from legal liability for the quality of donated food if they act in good faith.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Became Law.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Became Public Law No: 117-362.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-29.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know—that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

CATEGORIES

Agriculture Benefits