An Act prohibiting harmful food dyes in competitive school foods
This bill prohibits public schools from selling or providing competitive foods containing seven specific artificial dyes (including Blue 1, Red 40, and Yellow 5) on school grounds during school hours - defined as from midnight before school starts until 30 minutes after the school day ends. The ban applies to all public school competitive foods and non-sweetened carbonated water, effective December 31, 2028. Schools may still sell non-compliant foods off-campus, more than 30 minutes after the school day ends, or at designated events like fundraisers. The law directly affects public school food vendors and students by restricting access to foods containing these dyes during the school day.
Bill status
passed
3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 27, 2025
Last action Mar 16, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
5
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Committee
Referred to the committee on Public Health
lower
1 primary · 10 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Joe McKenna
RRepublican
Co
James Arena-DeRosa
DDemocratic
Co
Jamie Eldridge
DDemocratic
Co
John Marsi
RRepublican
Co
Margaret Scarsdale
DDemocratic
Co
Natalie Higgins
DDemocratic
Co
Patrick Kearney
DDemocratic
Co
Patrick O'Connor
RRepublican
Co
Shirley Arriaga
DDemocratic
Co
Steve Xiarhos
RRepublican
Co
Steven Howitt
RRepublican
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