Iowa Senate Passes ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Bill Restricting SNAP Purchases
The measure would make Iowa’s SNAP food limits permanent, require new school nutrition rules and add 40 hours of nutrition training for medical students.
- The Iowa Senate voted 30-16 on Tuesday to pass House File 2676, the Make America Healthy Again Act, which makes permanent state waivers restricting SNAP and Summer EBT purchases of unhealthy foods by requiring continuous approval requests.
- Senator Kara Warme, R-Ames, defended the legislation, stating the bill aims to refocus efforts on nutrition and physical activity with a focus on children starting young, noting similar screen-time restrictions are being adopted at Los Angeles Unified School District.
- The bill restricts digital instruction to one hour daily for K-5 students, requires two hours of weekly physical activity, mandates the Presidential Fitness Test in PE courses, and bans Red Dye 40 from school meals. Iowa medical school students must complete at least 40 hours of nutrition coursework before graduation.
- Senate Democrats opposed the bill, with Senator Molly Donahue, D-Cedar Rapids, contending it does not improve health outcomes and will disproportionately affect rural students. Senator Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, cited a Washington Post report showing the restrictions allow chips and cookies but prohibit healthy sandwiches from SNAP purchases.
- Governor Kim Reynolds issued a statement Monday expressing gratitude to lawmakers for passing the bill. Having proposed the legislation, Reynolds is expected to sign the measure into law at the statehouse.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Iowa Senate sends SNAP restrictions, over-the-counter ivermectin to governor
The Iowa Senate sent Gov. Kim Reynolds’ “Make America Healthy Again” legislation to her desk Monday, a package that includes SNAP restrictions, over-the-counter ivermectin and several school health and nutrition policies.
‘Iowa MAHA’ bill on its way to Governor Reynolds
A bill that includes a wide range of health-related topics is headed to Governor Kim Reynolds’ desk. It includes many of her own proposals, like requiring banning certain food dyes and additives in food served in Iowa schools and requiring Iowa medical students to complete 40 hours of coursework on nutrition and how the human […]
Governor will sign ‘Iowa MAHA’ bill into law
(Radio Iowa) – A bill that includes a wide range of health-related topics is headed to Governor Kim Reynolds’ desk. It includes many of her own proposals, like requiring banning certain food dyes and additives in food served in Iowa schools and requiring Iowa medical students to complete 40 hours of coursework on nutrition and how the human body converts food into energy. Legislators added a 60-minute-per-day limit on screen-time in elementary g…
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