Bill > HB1912

This bill, known as the Corn Masa Nutrition Enhancement Act, mandates that starting January 1, 2027, corn masa flour (a dry flour made from corn treated with slaked lime or nixtamalized) and wet corn masa products (made from corn kernels treated with an alkali solution) must contain specific amounts of folic acid, a B vitamin crucial for cell growth and development, with exceptions for certified organic foods and allowing grocery stores to offer one non-fortified option for consumer choice. The act also requires these products to include a declaration of folic acid on their nutrition labels and a statement indicating they are made with corn masa flour or through a wet corn masa manufacturing process, with exemptions for cottage food operations, food facilities, and small-volume operators, and importantly, the bill clarifies that it does not require synthetic folic acid if alternative, medically appropriate forms of folate are available and allows for the use of these alternatives without penalty, respecting parental rights and individual medical decisions, especially for those with genetic conditions affecting folate metabolism.