K-12 Nutrition Task Force Bill Passes In Tennessee Senate Committee

Image Credit: TN General Assembly

The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –

Legislation that would establish a special task force to evaluate the prevalence of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and other harmful substances in public school meal programs and their potential health effects of students passed in the Senate Education Committee unanimously on Wednesday.

Sponsored by Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16), Senate Bill 2122 (SB2122) would create the short-lived panel of nine members who would be tasked with evaluating how much UPF, artificial food dyes, and chemical additives currently make it into school meals while also reviewing clinical data that links UPF to childhood obesity.

The panel would report its findings by December 1st, 2026 and disband by January 31, 2027.

The companion House Bill 2076, sponsored by Representative Lee Reeves (R-Franklin-District 65), is scheduled to be heard by the House Education Committee on March 24th, 2026.

Contact information for the members of the committee may be found below.

House Education Committee – HB2076 scheduled to be heard March 24

HB2076 creates a short-lived panel of nine members tasked with evaluating how much UPF, artificial food dyes, and chemical additives currently make it into school meals while also reviewing clinical data that links UPF to childhood obesity.

Rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov; rep.kevin.raper@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jody.barrett@capitol.tn.gov; rep.charlie.baum@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov; rep.scott.cepicky@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ronnie.glynn@capitol.tn.gov; rep.yusuf.hakeem@capitol.tn.gov; rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tim.hicks@capitol.tn.gov; rep.chris.hurt@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov; rep.renea.jones@capitol.tn.gov; rep.aron.maberry@capitol.tn.gov; rep.sam.mckenzie@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jay.reedy@capitol.tn.gov; rep.lee.reeves@capitol.tn.gov; rep.william.slater@capitol.tn.gov; rep.robert.stevens@capitol.tn.gov

About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.