Late Tuesday night, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 379, which prohibits the use of SNAP benefits to purchase soda, candy, and certain ultra-processed products with no nutritional value. The bill was authored by Senator Mayes Middleton.

Make Texans Healthy Again (MTHA) supports this legislation, stating it prioritizes the health of vulnerable Texans and protects taxpayers from funding products that contribute to obesity and other chronic diseases. Travis McCormick, founder of MTHA, commented, "Health isn’t just about what we eat—it’s about what we don’t eat. This bill aligns SNAP purchases with basic nutrition standards and helps protect our most vulnerable Texans from being trapped in a cycle of poor health and rising healthcare costs. It’s a major win for prevention, public health, and fiscal responsibility. Thank you, Senator Mayes Middleton, for your leadership on this issue."

The bill gained national attention after a lobbyist for the American Heart Association testified against it. This testimony led to public outcry from health advocates and legislators. The American Heart Association has since retracted its opposition.

With Medicaid costs having tripled over two decades, SB 379 reflects a bipartisan effort toward prevention and nutrition-based policy. The bill now moves to the Texas House where companion legislation is already filed. MTHA urges lawmakers to act quickly to send this reform to the Governor's desk.

Make Texans Healthy Again is an advocacy group focused on advancing state-level policies that prioritize prevention and improve nutrition and fitness.

Learn more at MakeTexansHealthyAgain.com

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