The Texas House voted Sunday night to advance the “Make Texas Healthy Again” bill, showing strong bipartisan support with a 105-28 vote.
Senate Bill 25 would require daily physical activity in public and charter schools, create a statewide nutrition curriculum, and mandate warning labels on foods containing ingredients banned in other countries.
“This is about helping the average Texan make healthy choices, even when facing a multi-trillion dollar food industry,” said bill sponsor Rep. Lacey Hull, R-Houston, on the House floor. “We need to break the system and fight chronic disease.”
The bill also proposes the creation of the Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee, a seven-member group appointed by the governor. The committee would develop nutritional guidelines and study the effects of food additives on long-term health.
Under the bill, schools would be required to increase physical education and teach students about healthy eating habits based on the committee’s recommendations. The State Board of Education would be responsible for adopting those guidelines into the curriculum.
Senate Bill 25 reflects parts of the Trump-era “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative, which focused on improving health through better nutrition and less dependence on medications. Hull confirmed the bill aligns with those goals.
“This is about MAHA parents and holistic health advocates uniting. We’re tired of being sick and tired,” Hull said. She also noted she spoke with the White House, which expressed support for the bill and said Texas could lead the way.
The Senate had already passed the bill unanimously in March, but Sunday’s House debate was more contentious. Lawmakers attempted six times to block the bill through points of order. They also proposed 19 amendments—most of which were rejected—causing delays in the House’s legislative schedule just days before a Tuesday deadline to pass Senate bills.
Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, voted against the bill, even though he supports its general goals. “I had high hopes for this bill, especially on food additives. But it became too heavy-handed with too many strict requirements on schools,” Wu said, expressing concern that students might lose academic time.
Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, acknowledged the bill’s flaws but still voted in favor. “Many Democratic amendments aimed to improve the bill,” she said. “But overall, I believe it moves us in the right direction.”
Before the final vote, Hull told colleagues that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had called to praise the legislation. “He said this is the best bill in the nation. People are watching, and they want us to lead,” Hull said.
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