SB 25 seeks to enhance health and nutrition standards in Texas public schools by increasing physical activity requirements for students and restricting the use of physical activity as a form of punishment. The bill mandates that students in full-day pre-kindergarten through fifth grade participate in at least 30 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity each school day. Additionally, middle school students (grades six through eight) would be required to complete six semesters of physical education, an increase from the current four-semester requirement. Schools may alternatively meet these requirements by providing a minimum of 135 minutes of physical activity per week if daily scheduling proves impractical.
A key provision of the bill prohibits school employees from using the restriction of recess or other physical activities as a disciplinary measure for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The legislation also authorizes the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to enforce compliance and impose civil penalties on school districts or charter schools that fail to meet these new standards. The stated intent of SB 25 is to promote student health and wellness, combat childhood obesity, and encourage lifelong fitness habits.
The Committee Substitute for SB 25 expands the original bill’s scope by introducing enforcement mechanisms, adding new regulatory provisions, and extending state oversight in health and nutrition policies. While the filed version focused on increasing physical activity requirements for students and implementing a nutrition curriculum in higher education, the Committee Substitute goes further by authorizing civil penalties for school districts that fail to comply with physical education mandates. Additionally, it strengthens restrictions on using physical activity as a disciplinary measure, applying these rules not just to elementary students but also to middle school students engaged in structured physical activity.
Another significant addition is the creation of the Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee, which will oversee statewide nutrition guidelines and conduct independent reviews of scientific research. The Committee Substitute also introduces food labeling requirements, mandating that manufacturers disclose if products contain artificial colors, additives, or chemicals banned in Canada, the EU, or the UK—a provision absent in the original bill. Furthermore, the substitute version extends nutrition education requirements beyond students by mandating continuing medical education (CME) in nutrition and metabolic health for licensed physicians.
The Committee Substitute also delays implementation compared to the filed version, giving schools, healthcare institutions, and food manufacturers more time to comply with the new rules. While these changes enhance the bill’s public health objectives, they also increase regulatory burdens on schools, businesses, and healthcare professionals, raising concerns about state overreach and financial impact.