Sign Up
HB 281 Kentucky House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to the donation of food.

Summary
Amend KRS 217.127 to define "charitable food donor" as a nonprofit or religious organization that is recognized as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or home-based processor, which produces food for distribution to a homeless shelter or to individuals displaced due to a declared natural disaster; exempt a charitable food donor from the licensing requirements of KRS 217.005 to 217.215 and application of State Plumbing Code requirements; amend KRS 217.218 to conform; amend KRS 411.241 to exempt a nonprofit or religious organization that is recognized as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or a home-based processor from civil or criminal liability arising from the production or donation of food to a homeless shelter or to individuals displaced due to a declared natural disaster.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 8, 2026 Signed Apr 3, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Current/Final · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill text was updated to reflect its final version, HB 281, replacing the previous draft identifier. The substantive policy content regarding charitable food donors and liability protections remains unchanged, with no new definitions, funding, or eligibility criteria added.
TECHNICAL

Header identifiers were updated from 'BR 240' to 'HB 281/GA' to match the final bill number, and page numbering was adjusted to reflect the final document structure.

Floor votes · House Jan 29, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
8
Committee
6
Apr 3, 2026
Signed into law
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 30)
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 38-0
lower
Mar 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
passed over and retained in the Consent Orders of the Day
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar
lower
Mar 6, 2026
Committee
to Agriculture (S)
upper
Jan 30, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 95-0
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
lower
Jan 15, 2026
Committee
to Agriculture (H)
lower
Jan 8, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Jan 8, 2026
Introduced
introduced in House
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.