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IA SF590
IA SF590A bill for an act limiting liability for food distributors who donate food to charitable or nonprofit organizations or certain government entities.(Formerly SF 359.)
summary
Introduced
03/10/2025
03/10/2025
In Committee
03/24/2025
03/24/2025
Crossed Over
03/24/2025
03/24/2025
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
This bill amends Code section 672.1 providing that a person is exempt from criminal or civil liability for donating food to a charitable or nonprofit organization or to the department of natural resources or a county conservation board so long as the person is acting in good faith. The charitable or nonprofit organization must distribute the food free to needy individuals. The department of natural resources or a county conservation board must use the food as part of a free interpretive educational program. The Code section includes a list of persons who are expressly granted the exemption, including a gleaner, restaurant, food establishment, food service establishment, school, manufacturer of foodstuffs, or meat or poultry processing establishment. The bill provides that a food distributor is included in the list.
AI Summary
This bill amends an existing law to expand liability protection for food donors, specifically adding food distributors to the list of entities that can donate food without facing criminal or civil liability. Under this bill, a food distributor (along with other entities like restaurants, schools, and manufacturers) can donate food to charitable or nonprofit organizations or government entities like the department of natural resources or county conservation boards, provided they act in good faith. To qualify for this legal protection, the donor must reasonably inspect the food and determine it is fit for human consumption at the time of donation. The bill maintains important exceptions to this liability protection: donors can still be held responsible if damages result from their negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct, or if they knew or should have known the food was tainted, contaminated, or potentially harmful to recipients. The primary goal of this legislation appears to be encouraging food donation by reducing legal risks for potential donors, which could help address food insecurity by making it easier for businesses to donate surplus food to organizations serving needy individuals.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (0)
No sponsors listed
Other Sponsors (1)
State Government (Senate)
Last Action
Tabled until future meeting. (on 04/01/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF590 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/SF590.html |
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