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Bill > A4153
NJ A4153
NJ A4153Requires restaurants to provide healthy beverages with meals designated for children.
summary
Introduced
02/19/2026
02/19/2026
In Committee
02/19/2026
02/19/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill requires restaurants to provide a healthy beverage with any meals designated for children. Under the bill, a restaurant's default beverage for a children's meal could be: (1) water, sparkling water, or flavored water, with no added natural or artificial sweeteners; (2) nonfat or one percent milk or non-dairy milk alternative containing no more than 130 calories per container or serving as offered for sale; or (3) one hundred percent fruit juice or fruit juice combined with water or carbonated water, with no added sweeteners, in a serving size of no more than eight ounces. The bill does not prohibit or preclude a restaurant from selling or offering another beverage as a replacement to the default beverage included with the children's meal.
AI Summary
This bill requires restaurants to automatically include a healthy beverage with any meal designated for children, aiming to combat childhood obesity which is a significant public health concern, especially in New Jersey where a substantial percentage of children are overweight or obese. The bill defines a "children's meal" as a food and drink combination sold together for children, and a "default beverage" as the drink automatically included unless a different one is requested. The healthy beverage options that restaurants must offer as the default are water (including sparkling or flavored water without added sweeteners), nonfat or low-fat milk or a non-dairy alternative with no more than 130 calories per serving, or 100% fruit juice mixed with water or carbonated water, without added sweeteners, and limited to an eight-ounce serving. Importantly, this legislation does not prevent restaurants from selling or offering other beverages alongside these default healthy options, and the Commissioner of Health will establish regulations to enforce these new requirements, which will take effect six months after enactment.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee (on 02/19/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A4153 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A4500/4153_I1.HTM |
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