AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- HEALTHY KIDS ACT (Establishes the Healthy Kids Act whereby restaurants would be required to offer at least two (2) healthy versions of children's meals, or twenty-five percent (25%) of the children's meals on its menu, whichever is greater.)

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2026 -- H 7345
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- HEALTHY KIDS ACT

Introduced By:
Representatives Donovan, McGaw, Fogarty, Messier, Boylan, Cruz,
Potter, Giraldo, Carson, and Speakman

Date Introduced:
January 28, 2026

Referred To:
House Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Legislative findings.
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The general assembly hereby finds and declares the following:
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(1) Thirty-five percent (35%) of Rhode Island children are overweight or obese.
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(2) In 2022, childhood obesity rates are on the rise from pre-pandemic levels in 2019 (35%
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vs 31%).
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(3) Forty percent (40%) of children in Rhode Island’s core cities are overweight or obese
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compared to thirty-five percent (35%) of children in the remainder of the state.
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(4) Forty-one percent (41%) of latinx and forty-one percent (41%) of black children in
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Rhode Island are overweight or obese compared to thirty-two percent (32%) of white children
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(5) Food environments are associated with food choices and diet quality.
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(6) Childhood obesity is associated with costly chronic conditions like diabetes and heart
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disease.
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SECTION 2. Title 21 of the General Laws entitled "FOOD AND DRUGS" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 38
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HEALTHY KIDS ACT
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21-38-1. Short title.

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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Healthy Kids Act."
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21-38-2. Definitions.

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As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
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(1) "Children's meal" means a combination of food and a beverage, offered for sale together
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at a single price, primarily intended for consumption by children.
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(2) "Default beverage" means any beverage offered as part of a children's meal.
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(3) "Restaurant" means any food service establishment that serves food to customers for
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consumption on or off the premises, as defined in § 21-27-1, including, but not limited to, drive-
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through or walk-up counters, coffee shops, cafes, pizza parlors, and dine-in establishments.
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"Restaurant" does not include school cafeterias.
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21-38-3.

Nutrition standards in children's meals.
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(a) A restaurant shall not sell any children’s meal unless the restaurant offers at least two
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(2) children's meals, or twenty-five percent (25%) of the children's meals on the children's menu,
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whichever is greater, containing no more than:
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(1) Five hundred fifty (550) calories;
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(2) Seven hundred milligrams (700 mg) sodium;
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(3) Fifteen grams (15 g) added sugars;
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(4) Ten percent (10%) of calories from saturated fat; and
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(5) Zero grams trans-fat.
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(b)(1) A restaurant shall not sell a children's meal unless the restaurant offers at least two
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(2) children's meals, or twenty-five percent (25%) of the children's meals on the children's menu,
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whichever is greater, including servings in the specified amounts from at least two (2) of the
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following five (5) food groups:
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(i) Fruit: one-half (1/2) cup or more;
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(ii) Vegetable: one-half (1/2) cup or more;
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(iii) Nonfat or low-fat dairy: one-half (1/2) cup or more;
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(iv) Meat or meat alternative equaling at least:
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(A) One ounce (1 oz) meat, poultry, or seafood;
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(B) One egg;
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(C) One-fourth (1/4) cup pulses (beans, peas, lentils) or soy products;
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(D) Two (2) tablespoons nut butter; or
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(E) One ounce (1 oz) nuts and seeds; or
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(v) Whole grains: provides at least eight (8) grams of whole grains and meets at least one
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of the following criteria:
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(A) Contains fifty percent (50%) whole grain ingredients; or
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(B) Lists whole grains as the first ingredient.

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(2) At least one of the two (2) food groups shall be a fruit or non-fried vegetable.
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21-38-4. Default beverages in children's meals.
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(a) A restaurant shall not sell a children's meal with a beverage unless the default beverage
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is one of the following:
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(1) Water with no added natural or artificial sweeteners;
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(2) Unflavored nonfat or low-fat milk with no added natural or artificial sweeteners; or
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(3) Non-dairy milk alternative that is nutritionally similar to cow's milk with no added
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natural or artificial sweeteners.
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(b) When taking food and beverage orders for a children's meal, restaurant employees shall
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offer one of the default beverages set forth in subsection (a) of this section.
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(c) Nothing in this section prohibits a restaurant from selling, or a customer from
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purchasing, a beverage other than the default beverage included with a children's meal, if the
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customer requests the substitute or alternative beverage.
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21-38-5. Menus and menu boards.
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The children's meals and default beverages that meet the nutrition standards listed in §§
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21-38-3 and 21-38-4 shall be listed or displayed on a restaurant's menu and menu boards, including,
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without limitation, online menus and menus used by delivery-based entities.
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21-38-6. Enforcement.
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(a) The department of health shall implement, administer, and enforce this chapter, and is
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hereby authorized to issue rules and regulations consistent with this chapter and shall have all
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necessary powers to carry out the purpose of this chapter.
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(b) Within ninety (90) days of the passage date of this chapter, or any amendments thereto,
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the department of health shall send a copy of this chapter or any such amendment, and other written
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informational resources created in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, to all restaurants
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subject to this chapter.
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(c) The department of health shall create written informational resources and signage in
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English and Spanish summarizing the requirements of this chapter to help support restaurants and
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employees in implementation of this chapter.
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21-38-7. Restaurants.
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All restaurants shall provide a copy of this chapter and other written informational
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resources created in accordance with § 21-38-6 to all employees upon commencement of
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employment. Within thirty (30) days of receiving a copy of this chapter and other written
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informational resources, and on a regular basis for all new employees, while this chapter is in effect,
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all restaurants shall train employees on how to comply with the provisions of this chapter. All

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restaurants shall maintain records documenting the nutritional content of children’s meal food and
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beverages and make such records available to the department of health on request.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- HEALTHY KIDS ACT
***
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This act would establish the Healthy Kids Act whereby restaurants would be required to
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offer at least two (2) healthy versions of children’s meals, or twenty-five percent (25%) of the
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children’s meals on its menu, whichever is greater. The restaurant would further be required to
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offer either water, unflavored nonfat or low-fat milk, or non-dairy milk alternative with no added
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natural or artificial sweeteners with each child’s meal. The department of health would be required
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to implement rules and regulations to enforce this chapter.
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This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.
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