H 1523

F   L      O   R     I   D   A   H    O   U   S   E     O   F      R   E   P    R   E   S   E   N   T   A   T    I   V   E   S
    HB 1523  2026
1A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to food waste reduction; creating s.
31013.121, F.S.; requiring the Department of Education
4to develop a specified policy; requiring school
5districts to adopt the policy within a specified
6timeframe; providing requirements for the policy;
7requiring each participating school district to submit
8a report to the department by a specified date;
9providing requirements for the report; providing an
10effective date.
11
12Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
13
14Section 1.       Section 1013.121, Florida Statutes, is created
15to read:
161013.121        School food and plastic waste reduction.—
17(1)     The Department of Education shall develop a policy to
18be adopted by 25 percent of school districts in this state by
19the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year and to be adopted by
20100 percent of school districts in this state by the beginning
21of the 2029-2030 school year, which requires all of the
22following:
23(a)     A partnership with a local nonprofit organization or
24food bank to redistribute edible cafeteria food and divert
25organic food waste to a composting program.
                                                  Page 1 of 2
 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
                                                                                                         hb1523-00
F   L   O   R     I   D   A   H   O   U   S   E      O   F      R   E   P    R   E   S   E   N   T   A   T    I   V   E   S
 HB 1523  2026
26(b)     Installation of a sorting system for cafeteria waste,
27    subject to legislative appropriation.
28(c)     Gradual elimination of single-use plastics by
29    replacing them with reusable or compostable alternatives,
30    subject to legislative appropriation.
31(2)     Each participating school district shall submit an
32    annual report to the department by the end of each school year
33    which includes all of the following:
34(a)     Total quantity by weight of cafeteria food donated.
35(b)     Total quantity by weight of organic food waste
36    diverted to a composting program.
37(c)     Total quantity of single-use plastic items eliminated.
38(d)     Cost savings realized by the school district.
39(e)     Any barriers encountered and recommendations for the
40    policy.
41Section 2.       This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
                                               Page 2 of 2
     CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
                                                                                                      hb1523-00