SESSION WATCH
Died HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. HB 1523

Food Waste Reduction
Send via email
SPONSOR
Rayner
FILED BY
Michele Rayner — District 62, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Education Administration Subcommittee

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Food Waste Reduction; Requires DOE to develop specified policy relating to food waste reduction in K-12 schools; provides policy requirements, adoption rates for such policy, & school district requirements.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates statewide school food waste policies and annual reporting.

The Department of Education must create a policy requiring schools to partner with food banks and compost waste. This policy must be adopted by 25% of districts by 2027-2028 and 100% by 2029-2030.

Schools must install waste sorting systems and replace single-use plastics with reusable or compostable items. Both actions are strictly subject to legislative appropriation.

Every participating district must submit an annual report detailing the weight of food donated, waste composted, and plastics eliminated. Reports must also include cost savings and any barriers encountered.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory DOE Policy Development majors. 1013.121(1)

AIRequires the Department of Education to create a specific food waste policy for K-12 schools.

“The Department of Education shall develop a policy to be adopted by 25 percent of school districts in this state by the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year” bill text, line 17 →
§ 2 Mandatory District Adoption majors. 1013.121(1)

AIRequires 100% of school districts to adopt the policy by the 2029-2030 school year.

“to be adopted by 100 percent of school districts in this state by the beginning of the 2029-2030 school year” bill text, line 19 →
§ 3 Mandatory Nonprofit Partnership majors. 1013.121(1)(a)

AIRequires districts to partner with a local nonprofit or food bank to redistribute edible cafeteria food.

“A partnership with a local nonprofit organization or food bank to redistribute edible cafeteria food and divert organic food waste to a composting program” bill text, line 23 →
§ 4 Conditional Waste Sorting Installation moderates. 1013.121(1)(b)

AIRequires installation of cafeteria waste sorting systems, but only if the legislature provides funding.

“Installation of a sorting system for cafeteria waste, subject to legislative appropriation” bill text, line 26 →
§ 5 Conditional Plastic Elimination moderates. 1013.121(1)(c)

AIRequires gradual replacement of single-use plastics with reusable or compostable alternatives, subject to funding.

“Gradual elimination of single-use plastics by replacing them with reusable or compostable alternatives, subject to legislative appropriation” bill text, line 28 →
§ 6 Mandatory Annual Reporting moderates. 1013.121(2)

AIRequires participating districts to submit annual reports on food donated, waste diverted, plastics eliminated, and cost savings.

“Each participating school district shall submit an annual report to the department by the end of each school year” bill text, line 31 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Education Administration Subcommittee
1/15/2026
Now in Education Administration Subcommittee
1/15/2026
Referred to Education & Employment Committee
1/15/2026
Referred to Education Administration Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/9/2026
Filed
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1013.121
+193 / −0