AUSTIN, Texas — Republican state lawmakers introduced a package of legislation on Tuesday they said would make Texans healthier. The legislation proposes new restrictions on SNAP benefits, bans certain products in school lunches and requires new warning labels on some items.
This is an extension of a push we are starting to see from the federal government and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He has called for restrictions on ultra-processed foods and food additives and said they are “poisoning” Americans.
State lawmakers call this “Make Texas Healthy Again,” a nod to President Donald Trump’s push to “Make America Healthy Again.”
Senate Bill 25
Senate Bill 25 has the lowest bill number of the three in the legislation package and is a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who leads the Senate.
“Senate Bill 25 is a comprehensive effort to begin to address the causes of chronic illnesses and increase healthier food options in several ways,” said Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), who authored the bill. “Giving that information to the people so they make healthier decisions for themselves and their families.”
The bill expands P.E. requirements for sixth, seventh and eighth grades to participate in physical activity for at least 30 minutes for at least six semesters during those grade levels as part of the district’s physical education curriculum. It specifies districts can’t restrict participation for a student’s “academic performance or behavior.”
It would also require nutrition education for all Texas physicians, medical students or residents.
Senate Bill 25 creates a Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee to examine the link between ultra-processed foods, foods containing artificial colors and food additives, and chronic diseases. The committee would include one expert in metabolic health, one licensed physician certified in functional medicine, one member representing the Texas Department of Agriculture, one representing a rural community and one representing an urban community.
Committee members would not be able to own or control a 3% or greater ownership interest in a food, beverage or pharmaceutical manufacturing company or be related to someone who does.
Products containing artificial colors, food additives or other chemical ingredients banned by Canada, the European Union or the United Kingdom would need new warning labels.
“We have to do something to curb these chronic diseases and life expectancy,” Sen. Kolkhorst said. “This is for our children, and this is for our grandchildren. It’s for all of us.”
Senate Bill 314
Senate Bill 314 by Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) would ban certain additives in free or reduced school lunches and the breakfast program.
There are seven: brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, azodicarbonamide, butylated hydroxyanisole, red dye 3 and titanium dioxide.
Lawmakers say the chemicals are linked to severe harm and shouldn’t be served to children because there is healthier food and ingredients available.
“The choice before them is to eat what’s before them or go hungry, consume dangerous chemicals or be malnourished,” Sen. Hughes said. “If an ingredient is linked to severe, human harm, it is unnecessary, and alternatives are available. State law will prohibit it from being served on that child’s plate.”
As a high schooler, Grace Price, a student at the University of Austin, created a documentary on the relationship between food and cancer. She brought a hot dog and French fries she said was served for lunch at Eanes ISD.
“We are looking at a mix of cancer-causing chemicals and hormone disrupters and also chemicals that are known to increase hyperactivity in children, which means it quite literally impacts their ability to pay attention in class,” Price said. “They are expected to go pass a test after this and also have a bright future with chronic disease looming around the corner. I don’t think so.”
State Rep. Carolina Harris Davila (R-Round Round) is carrying a similar bill in the Texas House.
Senate Bill 379
Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston) has filed Senate Bill 379, which would prevent SNAP benefits from being used on food and drinks with little to no nutritional value, such as soda, energy drinks, candy, potato chips and cookies.
“Those are not about health and well-being. It’s not even satisfying the intent of the SNAP program to begin with,” Middleton said. “Senate Bill 379 removes these junk foods from the snack food program because we want to make sure that we’re providing that healthy and nutritious food for Texans in need.”
More than 3.3 million Texans utilize SNAP benefits.
WIC – the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children – already does not allow the purchase of these items. Middleton said he believes the current SNAP rules are incentivizing bad things and funding “bad health outcomes through taxpayer-funded SNAP funds.”
“At the end of the day, this is about doing what the program was designed to do: nutrition and better health outcomes,” Middleton said.
On Wednesday morning, the Senate Health & Human Services Committee will take up two bills, SB 25 and SB 314. That hearing is set for 8 a.m. If state lawmakers pass them out of committee, they will head to the full Senate floor for consideration.