1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2237 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2455
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Bradley H. Jones, Jr. and Hannah Kane
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to the promotion of food donation.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Bradley H. Jones, Jr.20th Middlesex1/15/2025Hannah Kane11th Worcester1/22/2025Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester1/21/2025Paul K. Frost7th Worcester1/31/2025Todd M. Smola1st Hampden3/10/2025David F. DeCoste5th Plymouth1/28/2025David K. Muradian, Jr.9th Worcester1/29/2025Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester3/10/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2237 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2455
By Representatives Jones of North Reading and Kane of Shrewsbury, a petition (accompanied by
bill, House, No. 2455) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., Hannah Kane and others relative to authorizing
the Department of Public Health to provide guidance to businesses regarding best practices for
food donation. Public Health.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2201 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act relative to the promotion of food donation.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. The department of public health shall issue guidance to businesses in the
2commonwealth regarding best practices for food donation, and state and federal policies
3concerning liability protections when donating food.
4 The guidance shall include, but not be limited to, a review of:
5 (i) state and federal liability protection laws in place concerning food donation;
6 (ii) the community benefits of food donation, including, but not limited to, reducing food
7waste, and providing food for those in need;
8 (iii) incentives for businesses to donate surplus food; 2 of 3
9 (iv) federal, state, and local regulations for safe food handling of food donations;
10 (v) best practices of food donation;
11 (vi) the types of food and produce that may be donated by businesses;
12 (vii) and contact information for staff at the department of public health that businesses
13can reach out to with questions regarding food donation best practices and liability protections.
14 SECTION 2. The commissioner of the department of public health shall establish how
15said guidelines regarding food donation by businesses be distributed to Massachusetts
16establishments in a manner that ensures that they are easily accessible. The commissioner shall
17also ensure that said guidelines are posted on the department of public health’s website. The
18guidelines shall be developed, distributed, and posted by the department of public health no later
19than 6 months within the passage of this act.
20 SECTION 3. The department of public health shall conduct educational webinars for
21health agents and local boards of health regarding best practices and strategies for implementing
22effective and safe policies and programs regarding food donation. The commissioner of the
23department of public health shall determine the educational content that shall be included in said
24webinars, and the frequency with which they shall be held, provided that, said webinars are held
25a minimum of 4 times per calendar year.
26 SECTION 4. The department of public health shall develop and implement a state-wide
27educational campaign to conduct targeted outreach to Massachusetts businesses and consumers
28to teach them about the importance of reducing food waste and how they can play a role in 3 of 3
29reducing food waste. The commissioner of the department of public health shall ensure that the
30campaign is developed and implemented no later than 12 months within the passage of this act.