Sponsors (4)
The bill increases availability of donated pet food and supplies by limiting donor liability and allowing redistribution/reconditioning, but it raises health, public-cost, and reputational risks unless paired with stronger safety, labeling, and enforcement measures.
Nonprofits, local and state governments, and pet-focused charities will receive more donated pet food and supplies because the bill reduces donors' legal risk and encourages redistribution.
Pet owners and animals in need gain increased access to food and supplies because donors are more likely to give surplus or imperfect products (appearance/age/packaging issues) that would otherwise be discarded.
Nonprofits and local governments can accept items that need reconditioning when recipients are informed and capable, expanding usable resources while retaining a safety-focused disclosure process.
People who rely on service or emotional support animals, pet owners, and animals themselves face increased health and safety risks if donated products cause harm and quality standards or enforcement are weak.
Taxpayers and local governments could bear public costs (outbreak response, animal illness containment) if liability limits reduce accountability for unsafe donated products.
Small businesses and other donors risk reputational harm if redistributed donated items later cause harm and labeling/consumer protections are unclear.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Extends a Bill Emerson–style liability shield to good-faith donations of pet food and supplies, protecting donors and recipients from most civil/criminal liability.
Creates a federal liability shield for good-faith donations of pet food and pet supplies so donors and recipients are protected from civil or criminal liability when donating apparently fit pet-related products for animals. Immunity covers individuals, nonprofit organizations, and State or local governments that donate or receive donated pet food or supplies, but does not protect gross negligence or intentional misconduct and does not preempt state or local health rules. The law borrows key definitions from the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, allows conditional immunity for imperfectly labeled or substandard items when recipients are informed and capable of reconditioning, and clarifies it imposes no affirmative duty to donate.
Official title: Provide protections for good faith donations of pet food and supplies.
Introduced June 4, 2025 by Raphael Gamaliel Warnock · Last progress June 4, 2025