Governor Greg Abbott has signed the Make Texas Healthy Again bill (SB 25) into law following its passage during the 89th Texas Legislative Session. Championed by Senator Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) and Representative Lacey Hull (R-Houston), the Make Texas Healthy Again bill introduces a sweeping package of reforms aimed at improving public health through education, professional training, and food transparency.
The Make Texas Healthy Again bill received broad bipartisan support, with dozens of coauthors and cosponsors from both chambers. It requires increased physical activity in schools, mandatory nutrition education for public university students, and new continuing education standards in nutrition for healthcare professionals. Commercial food service providers must now disclose nutritional information and label products containing ingredients banned in other countries, including substances like Red 40 and titanium dioxide. The Texas Department of State Health Services will be responsible for enforcement under the Make Texas Healthy Again bill.
A key feature of the Make Texas Healthy Again bill is the establishment of the Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee, which will oversee the development of state guidelines and rules. Provisions in the House version of the bill add transparency through conflict-of-interest rules and reporting requirements for committee members.
The Legislative Budget Board projects a net cost of $6.4 million to General Revenue funds over the 2026–2027 biennium, mainly due to the hiring of 24 full-time employees to administer and enforce the Make Texas Healthy Again bill. School districts may also incur costs for implementing new physical education and nutrition programs.
Public officials praised the Make Texas Healthy Again bill’s passage. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick called it a “commonsense” effort to promote nutrition and exercise, while Senator Kolkhorst emphasized the link between chronic disease prevention and long-term economic sustainability. Representative Hull highlighted the coalition of “MAHA parents and crunchy-granola parents” as a sign of unified public support.
Despite widespread legislative backing, the bill drew criticism from the food industry and policy organizations. Food manufacturers objected to the ingredient warning label requirements, and the Texas Policy Research group expressed concerns about government overreach and the bill’s reliance on foreign regulatory standards.
The Make Texas Healthy Again bill was signed into law on June 22, 2025, and will go into effect on September 1, 2025. As Texas implements the new law, it may serve as a model—or a flashpoint—for national discussions on health, education, and regulatory reform.
