Jun. 27, 2025
HARRISBURG – This week, the Pennsylvania Senate voted to pass a bill by state Rep. Tarik Khan (D-Philadelphia) and Rep. Tom Jones (R-Lancaster/Lebanon) which would remove barriers and encourage donations to food banks and other organizations.
The bipartisan legislation,
House Bill 615, which would expand immunity from civil and criminal liability for food donations that exceed the manufacturer’s recommended date, now heads to Gov. Josh Shapiro to be signed into law.
“This simple change will help food banks, pantries and related organizations across PA at a time when they are struggling to meet the needs of families looking to put food on the table,” Khan said. “Our bipartisan bill is a model of Democrats and Republicans working together to solve problems in our commonwealth.”
“This isn’t a partisan bill. This is a people bill. Our legislation will help to provide more good food to people who need it,” Jones said. “I look forward to this bill becoming law and want to thank everyone, including Rep. Khan, who helped make this happen.”
The bill would amend the Donated Food Limited Liability Act to limit the civil and criminal liability for people who donate food that is past the labeled date code recommended by the manufacturer but is still fit for human consumption. The person who donates the food must make a good faith evaluation that the donated food is good for human consumption.
When signed into law, the bill will encourage food donations and provide a critical link between surplus food and the more than 1.2 million people in Pennsylvania who are food insecure, 325,000 of whom are children.
Representative Tom Jones
98th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
ggross@pahousegop.com
