(AUSTIN, TX) — U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., joined Governor Greg Abbott to sign Senate Bill 25, landmark health and nutrition legislation written by Senator Lois Kolkhorst.

“Our nation spends more on healthcare than any other nation in the world, but our life expectancy ranks last among the G7 nations,” Kolkhorst said, who was seated next to Secretary Kennedy during the ceremony. “With SB 25, Texas is a national leader in Secretary Kennedy’s effort to Make America Healthy Again. We all sense that our healthcare system is deeply flawed, and SB 25 is a good first step in the battle to end the chronic health problems facing our state and nation.”

Now cited as a national model, SB 25 is known as the “Make Texas Healthy Again Act,” which promotes healthier living by adding nutrition education in medical schools and requiring stronger food labeling to help Texas consumers make more informed choices.

“I commend the state’s legislators for coming together across party lines... Texas has chosen a bold new course for public health—one I urge other states to follow,” said Secretary Kennedy, citing Kolkhorst’s determination to pass the bill in spite of immense opposition from the food industry, whose lobbyists repeatedly attempted to derail the legislation.

Governor Abbott and Secretary Kennedy signed Kolkhorst’s SB 25 in the Governor’s Reception Room, and were joined by the bill’s House sponsor, Rep. Lacey Hull, as well as House Speaker Dustin Burrows and many members of the Texas Senate and House. Following the passage of SB 25, the Governor also signed legislation banning the use of public SNAP benefits in Texas for sweetened drinks and candy (SB 379), as well as another bill to prohibit schools from serving foods with certain additives as part of free or reduced-price meals (SB 314).

"Every legislator in Texas wants to see Texas be put on a pathway to be healthier," said Governor Abbott. "These bills that I am signing today put Texas on that pathway. These bills were truly a bipartisan effort, and I am proud to sign them into effect."

Kolkhorst serves as the Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

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