Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB281: AN ACT relating to the donation of food.
Status: Signed into law, April 3, 2026
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.
What the bill says
An act relating to the donation of food.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to the donation of food. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 217.127 is amended to read as follows: (1) The secretary shall adopt regulations for the effective administration and enforcement of KRS 217.005 to 217.215. (2) The secretary shall adopt a state retail food code which shall include, among other things, provisions for regulating the issuance, suspension, and revocation of permits to operate; submission of plans for construction and equipment layout including plumbing, lighting, ventilation, water supply, sewage disposal, and other facilities; food supply source and protection; health, disease control and cleanliness of personnel; design, construction, installation, and cleanliness of equipment and utensils; toilet and hand-washing facilities; solid waste disposal and vermin control; and any other matters deemed necessary to insure a safe and sanitary operation of a retail food establishment. Standards for construction, plumbing, lighting, and ventilation of fixed retail food establishments shall be effective only if they are approved by the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction and are included in the Uniform State Building Code, or if they conform to the State Plumbing Code in the case of plumbing fixtures. Any review of plans for construction, plumbing, lighting, and ventilation required before construction of a fixed retail food establishment shall be conducted by the Department …
Sponsors
- Robert Duvall (R, HD-017) · primary sponsor
- Kimberly Moser (R, HD-064)
- Chad Aull (D, HD-079)
- Kimberly Banta (R, HD-063)
- Steve Bratcher (R, HD-025)
- Josh Bray (R, HD-071)
- Emily Callaway (R, HD-037)
- Josh Calloway (R, HD-010)
- Beverly Chester-Burton (D, HD-044)
- Patrick Flannery (R, HD-096)
- Ken Fleming (R, HD-048)
- Chris Freeland (R, HD-006)
Latest actions
- : signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 30)
- : delivered to Governor
- : enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
- : enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
- : received in House
- : 3rd reading, passed 38-0
- : passed over and retained in the Consent Orders of the Day
- : posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 24 2026
- : 2nd reading, to Rules as a consent bill
- : reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar
Votes
- Senate: Floor Vote RSN# 3997 (March 25, 2026): 38 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House: Pass RCS# 34 (January 29, 2026): 95 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: State Agencies, Licensing, Claims, Civil Actions, Public Health, Religion, Agriculture
Common questions
- What is HB281?
- HB281 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to the donation of food.
- What does HB281 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to the donation of food.
- What is the status of HB281?
- Signed into law as of April 3, 2026. Latest action: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 30) (April 3, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB281?
- Robert Duvall (R, HD-017), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB281?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb281.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.