SD 1836 Massachusetts Senate · 193rd Legislature (2023-2024)

An Act establishing community fridges to address food insecurity

This bill establishes a legal framework for community fridges in Massachusetts to help address food insecurity. It defines a community fridge as a publicly accessible refrigerator where anyone can donate or take food, requiring a designated manager to maintain cleanliness under public health guidelines. The law prioritizes placing these fridges in areas with high levels of food insecurity, such as food deserts and low-income neighborhoods, while ensuring they are distributed equitably across the state. Additionally, the bill provides legal protection for food establishments that distribute food without charge or at a nominal fee, shielding them from civil liability unless the food was misbranded, adulterated, or mishandled due to gross negligence.
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Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
AG
Adam Gómez
DDemocratic
MA
Hampden