AUSTIN, Texas — Governor Greg Abbott signed three bills into law Wednesday aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles for Texans. The legislation falls under the national umbrella of “Make America Healthy Again,” a motto being pushed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Abbott signed Senate Bills 25, 314 and 379.
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Senate Bill 25 mandates clear labeling on packaged food products containing ingredients banned in other countries. Senate Bill 314 prohibits schools participating in the National Breakfast and Lunch Programs from serving foods with additives linked to diseases such as diabetes and obesity.
“Texas is on the pathway to being even more healthy going forward,” Abbott said.
Perhaps the most impactful of the new laws is Senate Bill 379, which restricts the use of Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits for purchasing sweetened drinks and candy.
“Taxpayer dollars should not be used to fund chronic health problems in our state,” Abbott stated.
Kennedy joined the governor at the signing, praising Texas for its leadership.
“There’s no state that fought a harder battle to get here,” Kennedy said. “We know what’s making us sick. And we owe it to our children to fix it.”
Kennedy also addressed how the impact of these laws would be monitored, stating, “We’re going to track it at the CDC,” and added, “We’re actually going to be able to gauge whether or not Americans are going to get healthy again.”
Kennedy will join the governor at a roundtable discussion Thursday with Texas rural healthcare stakeholders.