HB 1418: Georgia Resource Exchange and Sharing for Community Uplift and Emergency Resilience (RESCUER) Act; enact

Georgia law does not currently give counties and cities a specific framework for running community food-sharing programs. House Bill 1418, called the RESCUER Act, would add a new section to Georgia's local government code letting any county or municipal government create a 'resource recovery program' that connects residents, food banks, restaurants, grocery stores, and other food retailers so they can share surplus food. Local governments could use a digital platform, such as an app or website, to run the program and could limit who takes part to people and businesses in their own community. The bill also protects anyone who shares food in good faith through the program, and the digital platform itself, from criminal charges or civil lawsuits over the food's condition, unless someone is hurt because of reckless or intentional misconduct.

• Authorizes county and municipal governments in Georgia to create voluntary 'resource recovery programs' that connect residents, food banks, restaurants, and grocery stores to share food.
• Allows local governments to use a digital platform, such as an app or website, to run these food-sharing programs.
• Lets local governments restrict program participation to members of their own local community.
• Shields good-faith food donors and the digital platform from criminal penalties or civil lawsuits over the food's condition, except in cases of recklessness or intentional misconduct.
• Gives the new law a short title, the Georgia Resource Exchange and Sharing for Community Uplift and Emergency Resilience (RESCUER) Act.

County and municipal governments that choose to start these programs, residents who want to give or receive shared food, and food banks, restaurants, grocery stores, and other retailers that donate surplus food through a local program or its digital platform.

Communities could gain an organized, legally protected way to redirect surplus food to people who need it instead of throwing it away. The liability protection may make businesses and individuals more willing to donate food they might otherwise discard out of fear of being sued or prosecuted.

• Section 1 gives the Act its short title, the Georgia RESCUER Act.
• Section 2 adds new Code Section 36-60-34 to Title 36, Chapter 60 of Georgia law, defining 'local community' as area residents plus food banks, restaurants, grocery stores, and other food retailers.
• Section 2 defines a 'resource recovery program' as a voluntary program connecting local community members to share food and reduce hunger and food waste.
• Section 2 authorizes county and municipal governing authorities to establish such programs and use a digital platform, which can restrict access to local community members only.
• Section 2 protects members who share food in good faith, and the digital platform used, from criminal penalty or civil damages over the food's condition, unless injury results from recklessness or intentional misconduct.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-25House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-24House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-20House Hopper (House)

• Segun Adeyina (D, HD-110)Primary sponsor
• Todd Jones (R, HD-025)
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)
• Arlene Beckles (D, HD-096)
• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)
• Derrick McCollum (R, HD-030)

• food waste
• hunger relief
• local government programs
• food donation liability