Upcoming HHS Hearing (3/12/25)
Hey Everyone,
A few key bills will be heard in the Senate HHS Committee this week, including SNAP reform, cottage food expansion, and a DNA privacy bill. One-pagers and a letter of support for all three are attached (if you can’t attend hearing, please send a letter via email)
Committee: Senate Health & Human Services
Time & Date: ** NOTE NEW DATE/TIME **
1:30PM (or Final Adjournment, Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Location: Senate Chamber
Chair: Senator Lois Kolkhorst
SB 379 (Middleton, et al.) – Prohibits the use of SNAP benefits for sodas, energy drinks, and certain ultra-processed products that contribute to poor health outcomes. (View One Pager)
SB 541 (Kolkhorst) – Expands cottage food laws by increasing sales caps and allowing additional food products to be sold directly to consumers. (View One Pager)
BOTTOM LINE: If you are able to testify on Wednesday in Senate Health and Human Services, let me know. Hearing is set for 8AM, but depending on what time Senators go to the Floor, the order of bills, and how many witnesses sign up — it could be late afternoon before folks have the opportunity to testify. I can text you to keep you in the loop when I know more. The SNAP bill is controversial, so Senator Middleton will need our help getting it passed.
Send a letter:
If you are unable to attend, no problem! Below is a template letter for contacting members of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee in support of three important bills. Please feel free to personalize the letter, so they don’t all look the same (however totally fine to send as if if you prefer). If there is a bill you do not wish to support, feel free to remove that section before sending.
These bills advance nutrition, health freedom, and personal privacy in Texas. Your outreach can make a difference in ensuring lawmakers prioritize these critical reforms.
Instructions:
Copy and paste the letter below into an email.
Personalize it—add your own experiences or reasons for supporting these bills.
Send it to the members of the Senate HHS Committee (you can BCC them all at once): lois.kolkhorst@senate.texas.gov, charles.perry@senate.texas.gov, cesar.blanco@senate.texas.gov, bob.hall@senate.texas.gov, kelly.hancock@senate.texas.gov, bryan.hughes@senate.texas.gov, molly.cook@senate.texas.gov, borris.miles@senate.texas.gov, kevin.sparks@senate.texas.gov
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Chairwoman Kolkhorst and Members of the Committee,
I am writing to express my strong support for a couple bills being heard in the Senate Health & Human Services Committee that will improve nutrition, protect personal health freedoms, and ensure transparency in healthcare and food policy. These issues are critical to the well-being of Texans, and I urge you to support the following measures:
SB 379 (Middleton) – Improving SNAP Nutrition
This bill ensures that taxpayer-funded SNAP benefits are used to support real nutrition, not products that contribute to obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. SB 379 aligns SNAP purchases with public health priorities by restricting taxpayer funds from being spent on sodas, energy drinks, and ultra-processed junk food. While improving nutrition, this bill also encourages retailers to stock healthier options in underserved areas by reducing market incentives to stock ultra processed foods.
SB 541 (Kolkhorst) – Supporting Small Food Businesses & Expanding Access to Homemade Goods
SB 541 modernizes Texas' cottage food laws, allowing small-scale food producers to expand their operations while maintaining health and safety standards. By eliminating unnecessary income caps and permitting direct-to-consumer sales, this bill promotes local entrepreneurship and gives Texans greater access to fresh, locally made products.
As a supporter of Make Texans Healthy Again, I believe in advancing policies that prioritize prevention, improve nutrition and fitness, and promote transparency, affordability, access, and freedom in healthcare and insurance. Our movement is committed to advocating for meaningful reforms that empower Texans to take control of their health.
These bills take important steps toward improving nutrition and protecting health freedom and privacy in Texas. I urge you to support them and help advance policies that prioritize Texans’ well-being. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Your name