Legislative Update (5/18/25)
I hope you and your family are having a wonderful Sunday. Only 15 days remain of the Legislative Session, so I wanted to give you a quick update.
Texas just took a big step forward: Governor Abbott has officially requested a federal waiver to block soda and candy purchases with SNAP benefits (Learn more).
That means your taxpayer dollars could soon stop subsidizing sugary drinks and snacks —and instead, help families prioritize healthier choices. With support from national voices like RFK Jr. and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, this waiver has real momentum to be approved. This is a huge win for the health of our most vulnerable Texas families—and it’s just one of several victories we’ve been working toward.
Alongside the bill to ban harmful additives from school lunches, another nutrition win is heading to the Governor’s desk. SB 541, by Sen. Kolkhorst and Rep. Hull, makes it easier for small food producers to sell their products without jumping through a bunch of hoops. It doubles the income cap for cottage food businesses (from $50K to $100K), allows sales at places like farmers markets and retail stores, and blocks local governments from piling on extra permits.
And three major Health Freedom bills just passed the Texas House:
HB 1586 (Hull): Simplifies vaccine exemption forms by making them downloadable—no physical seal or personal info required.
HB 4076 (Leach): Bans discrimination in organ transplants based on vaccination status.
HB 3441 (Luther): Allows legal action against vaccine manufacturers for false or harmful advertising.
Unfortunately, HB 3219 (Shofner), which would have let pharmacists dispense ivermectin without a prescription—similar to how you can get Claritin-D behind the counter—didn’t get called up for a vote before the deadline, so it won’t pass this session. To see where the remaining MAHA bills stand, click here.
AUSTIN HEALTH ALLIANCE: Thank you to Brian Sanders, Rian Overcash, and the Sapien Center for inviting me to participate in your launch event for the Austin Health Alliance, a new effort bringing together thought leaders, practitioners, and advocates who care deeply about health in Austin. AHA is about more than wellness buzzwords—it’s about building a real community, having honest conversations, and connecting people who are doing the work to make Austin a healthier place to live. I am excited to work with them in the coming months as we develop our legislative agenda for next Session! To learn more about the Austin Health Alliance - click here.
HUMAN-OS - Wild Blueberries May Combat Afternoon Mental Fatigue: A study reveals that consuming wild blueberries can help sustain cognitive performance throughout the day. Researchers had participants consume a blueberry-rich beverage or a placebo during two separate full-day lab sessions, measuring memory, executive function, and reaction time. Results showed that those who consumed the blueberry drink (roughly a cup of blueberries) maintained sharper mental performance, particularly in the afternoon, suggesting that wild blueberries may counteract the typical midday cognitive slump. (Read More)
NEWSWEEK - Food Additive Transparency Can Make America Healthy Again: RFK Jr. is urging reform of the FDA’s food additive process, highlighting that over 6,000 additives are permitted in the U.S.—far more than the 411 allowed in Europe. He criticizes the “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) loophole, originally meant for common ingredients like nutmeg and paprika, but now exploited by major food companies to add industrial chemicals without FDA review. A 2011 study found that since 1997, around 1,000 additives have entered the American food supply without independent safety evaluations. (Read more)
If you are curious which “MAHA” bills are still moving and their current status, click here.
SAVE THE DATE
Virtual Town Hall | June 4th | 7:00–8:00 PM
After the legislative session wraps up, Make Texans Healthy Again (MTHA) will be hosting a virtual town hall to share what happened at the Capitol, what it means for Texans, and how we keep the momentum going. Whether you’re new to the movement or already involved, this will be a great opportunity to connect, ask questions, and learn what’s next.
More details and RSVP link coming soon!