Texas lawmakers have introduced a legislative package aimed at improving public health through better nutrition, physical activity, and dietary regulations. The initiative, called “Make Texas Healthy Again,” was announced Tuesday at the Texas Capitol by State Senators Lois Kolkhorst, Brian Hughes, and Mays Middleton.
The proposed bills—SB 25, SB 314, and SB 379—seek to address rising rates of obesity, chronic disease, and poor nutrition, particularly among children. Kolkhorst highlighted alarming statistics, noting that 73% of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, while obesity affects 20% of children nationwide. She also cited the sharp rise in Type 1 diabetes and early-onset cancers, linking them to poor diet and lifestyle choices.
SB 25 would expand physical education requirements in Texas public schools, ensuring that students engage in daily physical activity. It also mandates that medical schools teach nutrition as part of their curriculum and requires physicians to take continuing education classes on the subject. Additionally, the bill calls for the creation of a Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee to study the impact of ultra-processed foods on health and to recommend policy changes. A key provision would require warning labels on foods containing artificial additives and banned chemicals.
SB 314, sponsored by Hughes, focuses on improving school lunches by banning harmful ingredients linked to severe health risks. The bill would affect more than three million students across 8,000 schools, prohibiting the use of synthetic food dyes and other substances in meals served to children. Hughes criticized the federal government’s failure to regulate school nutrition effectively and emphasized the importance of providing healthier options for children who rely on school meals.
SB 379, introduced by Middleton, would restrict junk food purchases under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). He argued that taxpayer-funded junk food leads to higher taxpayer-funded healthcare costs. The bill aims to ensure that SNAP benefits are used to purchase healthier food options for Texans in need.
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee, chaired by Kolkhorst, will begin hearings on two of the bills this week, with further discussions expected in the coming months.
