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Iowa Senate Passes ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Bill Restricting SNAP Purchases
The measure would make Iowa’s SNAP food limits permanent, require new school nutrition rules and add 40 hours of nutrition training for medical students.
- On Monday, The Iowa Senate voted 30-16 to pass House File 2676, the Make America Healthy Again Act, which seeks to make permanent state waivers restricting SNAP and Summer EBT purchases of unhealthy foods by requiring continuous approval requests.
- Senator Kara Warme, R-Ames, defended the legislation, stating the bill aims to refocus efforts on nutrition and physical activity with a focus on children starting young, noting similar screen-time restrictions are being adopted across the country including at Los Angeles Unified School District.
- The bill restricts digital instruction to one hour daily for K-5 students, mandates two hours of weekly physical activity, requires the Presidential Fitness Test in PE courses, and bans Red Dye 40 from school meals. Iowa medical school students must complete at least 40 hours of nutrition coursework before graduation and every four years thereafter.
- Senate Democrats opposed the measure, with Senator Molly Donahue, D-Cedar Rapids, arguing it does not improve health outcomes for Iowans and will disproportionately impact rural students. Senator Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, cited a Washington Post report showing chips and cookies remain purchasable under restrictions while healthy sandwiches cannot be purchased with SNAP.
- Governor Kim Reynolds issued a statement Monday expressing gratitude to lawmakers for passing the bill. Having proposed the legislation, Reynolds is expected to sign the measure into law at the statehouse.
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‘Iowa MAHA’ bill on its way to Governor Reynolds
A bill that includes a wide range of health-related topics is headed to Governor Kim Reynolds’ desk. It includes many of her own proposals, like requiring banning certain food dyes and additives in food served in Iowa schools and requiring Iowa medical students to complete 40 hours of coursework on nutrition and how the human […]
Coverage Details
Total News Sources18
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution78% Center
Bias Distribution
- 78% of the sources are Center
78% Center
L 22%
C 78%
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