Bill > H2468

This bill introduces comprehensive regulations aimed at promoting children's health in three key areas. First, it prohibits schools from advertising non-compliant beverages (those that don't meet federal nutritional standards) on school property, including athletic fields, vehicles, and vending machines, and bars schools from participating in beverage-related incentive programs that reward or fund schools based on beverage purchases. Second, the bill requires chain restaurants to display warning icons next to menu items that exceed daily recommended added sugar limits, with dynamic warnings for interactive menus, and imposes civil penalties for non-compliance. Third, the bill mandates that chain restaurants offer healthier children's meals by requiring at least two meal options that meet specific nutritional criteria, including calorie, sodium, sugar, and fat limits, and include servings from multiple food groups. Additionally, the bill encourages schools to implement media literacy instruction from third to twelfth grade, with a focus on analyzing advertising content for food, beverages, drugs, and alcohol. The legislation includes provisions for implementation, reporting, and a review of the law's impact after four years, with a commitment to severability if any part of the act is found to be invalid.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2468