Three new laws aim to make Texas healthier by changing school meals and SNAP purchases
Austin, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott officially signed into law three major public health bills—Senate Bill 25, Senate Bill 314, and Senate Bill 379—as part of the broader Make America Healthy Again legislative initiative. The event took place with U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and other key Texas leaders standing in support.
“Every legislator in Texas wants to see Texas be put on a pathway to be healthier,” said Governor Abbott. “These bills that I am signing today put Texas on that pathway. Taxpayer dollars will no longer be used to fund chronic health problems in our state. These bills were truly a bipartisan effort, and I am proud to sign them into effect.”
The ceremony was attended by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Dustin Burrows, Secretary Kennedy, and a host of lawmakers including Senator Bryan Hughes, Senator Lois Kolkhorst, Senator Mayes Middleton, Representative Stan Gerdes, Representative Caroline Harris-Davila, and Representative Lacey Hull.
Secretary Kennedy praised the state’s leadership, saying, “Thank you, Governor Abbott, for your leadership in uniting Texans to confront chronic disease. I also commend the state’s legislators for coming together across party lines to pass these bipartisan bills. Texas has chosen a bold new course for public health—one I urge other states to follow.”
Overview of the Three Bills Signed Into Law
Senate Bill 25, known as the Make Texas Healthy Again Act, was authored by Senator Kolkhorst and Representative Hull. The bill embeds nutrition education across the entire public education system—from kindergarten through college—and mandates that the healthcare workforce also receive training in nutrition. It further strengthens food label transparency, empowering consumers to make informed choices about their diet.
Senate Bill 314, authored by Senator Hughes and Representative Harris-Davila, sets new standards for school meals by prohibiting foods containing certain additives from being served as part of free or reduced-price lunch programs. This aims to protect children from harmful ingredients often found in processed foods.
Senate Bill 379, led by Senator Middleton and Representative Gerdes, takes direct aim at reducing sugar consumption among low-income Texans by restricting the use of SNAP benefits for purchasing sweetened beverages and candy.
With this legislative package, Texas is positioning itself as a national leader in preventive health and nutrition. The measures signal a significant shift toward addressing the root causes of chronic illness—diet and education—while also protecting taxpayer dollars from being consumed by preventable diseases.
