SEN. KOLKHORST’S ‘MAKE TEXAS HEALTHY AGAIN’ LEGISLATION SIGNED INTO LAW

  

Legislation authored by State Senator Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) to create stricter food labeling requirements, increase physical and nutrition education, and establish a research committee has been signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott.

Kolkhorst said Senate Bill 25, part of a series of bills known as “Make Texas Healthy Again” legislation, is intended to help families make better food and nutritional choices and encourage food manufacturers to avoid using potentially harmful ingredients in their products.

One of the main pieces of the bill is a requirement to add warning labels by 2027 to products that contain artificial additives, dyes or chemicals which are banned in Australia, Canada, the European Union or the United Kingdom.  It also calls for all medical and nursing students to take nutrition courses and prevents students from being restricted from participating in recess or physical education classes due to academic performance or behavior.  

Additionally, it forms the Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee to study connections between ultra-processed foods, artificial additives and dyes, and chronic diseases.  That research will be used to develop curriculum for nutrition classes in Texas public schools, colleges and medical schools; Kolkhorst said the process will not have influence or conflicts of interest from food industry insiders.    

Kolkhorst said the ideas for this legislation came directly from Senate District 18 and her constituents.  She called it “groundbreaking” and said it has the potential to spark similar change across the country.

SB 25 passed unanimously in the Senate and 116-24 in the House before Abbott’s signature on Sunday. 

Other related bills signed into law include SB 314 from Senator Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) and SB 379 from Senator Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston).

SB 314 prohibits certain chemicals from being added to free and reduced school lunches.  Through SB 379, the state will ask for a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prevent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from being used on sugary drinks and candy.