Texas Senate Passes Landmark Bills to Promote Healthy Eating and Nutrition Education

Flower Mound - Highland Village - Argyle

March 21, 2025 Maverick Tax Guardians

On March 12, 2025, the Texas Senate unanimously approved two significant bills aimed at enhancing public health through improved nutrition standards. These legislative measures seek to address the rising prevalence of chronic diseases by promoting healthier eating habits among Texans.

Senate Bill 25 (SB 25), authored by Senator Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), mandates comprehensive nutrition education across various sectors.

Medical Education: Medical students will receive increased training in nutrition and metabolic health. Additionally, continuing education requirements for doctors, nurses, and physician assistants will now include components on diet and nutrition.
Public Schools: Students from kindergarten through eighth grade will participate in daily physical education classes. Furthermore, annual instruction on nutrition will be incorporated into the curriculum to instill healthy eating habits from an early age.

Senator Kolkhorst emphasized the urgency of these measures, citing data that indicates a significant increase in chronic diseases among Americans since the 1960s. She stated, “We are taking action for our children, our grandchildren, and every Texan, so that we can live longer [and] have more productive lives.

Senate Bill 314 (SB 314), introduced by Senator Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), focuses on improving the nutritional quality of meals provided in public schools.

Prohibited Additives: The bill bans 14 specific food additives, including certain synthetic dyes and preservatives, from being used in free and reduced-price meals served in Texas public schools. Notably, additives such as Red Dye 3 and brominated vegetable oil, recently banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, are among those prohibited.

Senator Hughes highlighted the importance of this legislation for students relying on school-provided meals, stating, “They can eat what’s put in front of them, or they can go hungry. They can consume dangerous chemicals, or they can just be malnourished.

Both bills are part of a broader initiative to combat the increasing rates of obesity and related health issues in Texas. The legislation now awaits consideration in the Texas House of Representatives.

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This news article is based on information from:
Community Impact -“Texas Senate approves bills aimed at promoting healthy eating” (March 17,2025). Retrieved from: https://communityimpact.com/austin/south-central-austin/texas-legislature/2025/03/17/texas-senate-approves-bills-aimed-at-promoting-healthy-eating/