Texas lawmakers unveil package to tighten school food standards, expand nutrition education and restrict junk food in SNAP

Chairwoman Kolkhorst, state senator and chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, and sponsors on both sides of the Capitol held a press event in Austin to announce three related bills aimed at reducing chronic disease by changing school meals, expanding nutrition education and limiting taxpayer-funded purchases of so‑called junk food. The proposals are Senate Bill 25, Senate Bill 314 and Senate Bill 379; committee hearings were announced for the immediate session.

The legislation is meant to address growing state and national concern about diet-related chronic illness. "We have to do this for our children," Chairwoman Kolkhorst said, outlining what she described as a four‑pillar plan in SB 25: expanded physical education requirements for children; required nutrition curriculum for medical students and continuing medical education for physicians; creation of a Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee to review scientific links between ultra‑processed foods and chronic disease; and new labeling requirements to inform consumers about ingredients that are not permitted or used in other Western countries.

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