SB 1289 Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Public elementary and secondary schools; nutritional standards for school meals and other foods.

Summary

Public elementary and secondary schools; nutritional standards for school meals and other foods; nutrition requirements; certain color additives prohibited. Prohibits any public elementary or secondary school from offering or making available to any student any food served as a part of a school meal or any competitive food, as defined in applicable law, that contains any of the seven color additives listed in the bill. The bill directs the Board of Education to amend its nutritional guidelines for competitive foods promulgated pursuant to relevant law in accordance with the provisions of the bill. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027, and is identical to HB 1910.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Signed Mar 21, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled → Chaptered · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill enacts Virginia's school nutrition law into permanent statute, establishing a ban on seven specific artificial color additives in school meals and competitive foods. The law prohibits FD&C Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, and Yellow No. 6 from being served to students, with an effective date of July 1, 2027.

Scope change

The bill converts a temporary legislative act into permanent code, expanding the legal framework for school nutrition standards from a one-time enactment to an enduring statutory requirement.

REQUIREMENT

Establishes permanent prohibition of seven specific artificial color additives in school meals and competitive foods

DEFINITION

Defines 'color additive' and 'competitive food' for the new statutory section

TIMELINE

Sets July 1, 2027 as the effective date for the color additive restrictions

TECHNICAL

Changed document format from temporary enrolled bill to permanent chaptered act with proper Virginia Acts of Assembly formatting

Floor votes · Senate Jan 31, 2025 · House of Delegates Feb 20, 2025

How they voted

39–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 40

Jan 31, 2025

D Democratic21

21 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican19

18 Yea 1

94% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 21, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 222 (Effective 07/01/27)

executive

Mar 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1289ER)

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed House (98-Y 0-N)

lower

Feb 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported from Education (22-Y 0-N)

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Education

lower

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Introduced

Engrossed by Senate as amended

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Education and Health Amendment agreed to

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Introduced

Reading of amendment waived

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from Education and Health with amendments (15-Y 0-N)

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Assigned Education sub: Public Education

upper

Jan 8, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Education and Health

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors