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Bill

SD 834

An Act encouraging the donation of food to persons in need

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jo Comerford and 4 co-sponsors

Massachusetts bill shields food donors from liability and incentivizes charitable food donations to reduce hunger and waste.

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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SD 834

Legislative bill overview

SD 834 establishes legal protections and incentives for businesses, restaurants, farms, and individuals who donate food to charitable organizations serving people in need. The bill likely includes liability protections (Good Samaritan-style provisions) to shield donors from lawsuits related to donated food, and may provide tax incentives to encourage participation in food donation programs.

Why is this important

Food insecurity affects hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents, while significant quantities of edible food are discarded by retailers and restaurants annually. By removing legal barriers and financial disincentives to donation, the bill aims to redirect surplus food to hungry populations while reducing waste—a win-win for both social welfare and environmental sustainability.

Potential points of contention

  • Liability standards: Debate over how broad the liability protections should be—donors may want extensive protection while consumer advocates may worry about quality control or food safety requirements being weakened
  • Tax incentive costs: Questions about the fiscal impact of tax deductions/credits and whether they represent meaningful incentives or are fiscally burdensome
  • Definition and enforcement: Disagreement over what qualifies as "safe" donated food, which organizations can receive donations, and how compliance is monitored

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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