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April 16, 2026 Clouds | 74°F
The 194th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Bill S.1043 194th (Current)

An Act encouraging the donation of food to persons in need

By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1043) of Joanne M. Comerford, Sal N. DiDomenico, Hannah Kane, Bruce E. Tarr and others for legislation to encourage the donation of food to persons in need by exempting donors from civil damages for any injury arising out of the condition of such food. The Judiciary.

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Bill Information

Presenter:
Joanne M. Comerford
Status:
Referred to Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Food donations

This bill facilitates and encourages the donation of food from farms, grocery stores, and restaurants to persons in need. In section 1, the bill creates a non-refundable tax credit of up to $25,000 for farms, grocery stores, and restaurants that donate food to Massachusetts non-profit organizations. In section 2, the bill extends current civil liability protections to individuals, farms, restaurants, food stores, and organizations that make direct food donations to individuals in need or to nonprofits. Under the bill's proposed language, said businesses cannot be found liable for civil damages arising from the condition of donated food, so long as they comply with public health regulations. The liability protections do not apply in cases of misbranded, adulterated, improperly handled, or negligently caused food-related injuries.
* The bill summary was created by the Primary Sponsor of the bill; no committee of the General Court certifies the accuracy of its contents.

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