Requires each public institution of higher education to develop food waste reduction program on campus.

SENATE, No. 2269 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 222nd LEGISLATURE � PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION Sponsored by: Senator M. TERESA RUIZ District 29 (Essex and Hudson) Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer) Co-Sponsored by: Senators Moriarty, Cryan and Wimberly SYNOPSIS ���� Requires each public institution of higher education to develop food waste reduction program on campus. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT ���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel. �� An Act concerning food waste at public institutions of higher education and supplementing chapter 62 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.� ���� Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: ���� 1.� a.� Each public institution of higher education shall develop and implement a food waste reduction program on each campus of the institution.� It shall be the purpose of the program to redirect unused, excess food prepared or distributed at campus dining halls, facilities, and events to local food security programs, including soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and community nonprofits.� The program shall ensure that all necessary and applicable food safety standards are met throughout the selection, packaging, and transfer of food through the program. ���� b.� Each public institution of higher education shall submit an annual report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on its contributions to local food security programs and post the report on its website. � ���� 2.��� This act shall take effect immediately.� STATEMENT ���� This bill directs each public institution of higher education to develop and implement a food waste reduction program on each campus of the institution.� The purpose of the program is to redirect unused, excess food prepared or distributed at campus dining halls, facilities, and events to local food security programs, including soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and community nonprofits.� The program is to ensure that all necessary and applicable food safety standards are met throughout the selection, packaging, and transfer of food through the program. The bill directs the institution to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature on its contributions to local food security programs and post the report on its website.