Committee advances bill to fortify corn masa with folic acid to reduce neural-tube defects

The House Health Committee voted to give a favorable report to House Bill 384, which would require fortifying corn masa products with folic acid to reduce neural-tube birth defects such as spina bifida, Representative Crawford said.

Representative Crawford told committee members that past public-health efforts to fortify cornmeal, flour and grits with folic acid have reduced some birth defects but that corn masa, a key ingredient in tortillas and taco shells, is not currently fortified. "There's been a a gap in some of those products over the years," Crawford said, and adding folic acid to corn masa could help lower rates of spina bifida among affected populations.

The sponsor said the measure could also reduce state costs related to those birth defects; the bill text and sponsor's remarks included an estimate the change could save the state roughly $2.3 million a year. Committee members did not record additional fiscal estimates in the hearing. After a short procedural exchange, Representative Shireen moved for a favorable report and Representative Brinyard seconded; the committee approved the measure by voice vote.

The committee discussion was brief and focused on the public-health rationale and whom the fortification would reach. No written amendments or fiscal notes were presented during the committee session recorded in the transcript. The bill will proceed to the next steps in the legislative process where additional fiscal and implementation details can be examined.