General Assembly, Directed Studies

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to school nutrition.

Education

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Reeves, Bowling
Last action: 2026-04-08
Official status: Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details on the financial impact beyond the initial allocation.

Study of School Nutrition in Tennessee

This bill establishes a task force to study ultra-processed foods and other substances in school meals and their effects on student health.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a nine-member task force to evaluate the prevalence of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and other substances, including artificial dyes and chemical additives, in K-12 school meal programs.
Reviews scientific data about the link between UPF consumption in schools and health issues like childhood obesity.
Develops recommendations for transitioning school menus towards whole-food alternatives.

Who It Names or Affects

Students who eat school-provided breakfasts and lunches
School nutrition programs

Terms To Know

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs): Foods that are heavily processed with many additives, often high in sugar, fat, or salt.
Task force: A group of people brought together to work on a specific project or issue.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what will happen after the task force finishes its job.
It is unclear how much money will be spent beyond the initial $17,300 General Fund allocation for FY26-27.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HA1023

Amendment 1-0 to HB2076

Plain English: The amendment directs the Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations (TACIR) to study the presence and health impacts of ultra-processed foods and other substances in school nutrition programs.

Adds a requirement for TACIR to conduct a study on ultra-processed foods, artificial dyes, and chemical additives in school meals.
Specifies that TACIR must prepare a report summarizing the research linking these items to childhood obesity and metabolic issues.
Requires TACIR to suggest ways to move towards whole-food alternatives for school nutrition programs.

The amendment does not specify how TACIR will fund or conduct this study beyond using existing resources, which may limit the scope of the research.

SA0812

Amendment 1-0 to SB2122

Adds a requirement for TACIR to conduct a study on ultra-processed foods, artificial dyes, and chemical additives in school meals.
Specifies that TACIR must prepare a report summarizing research on the health impacts of these items and suggest ways to improve school nutrition programs.

The amendment does not specify how TACIR will fund or conduct this study beyond using existing resources, which may limit its scope.
It is unclear what specific actions will be taken based on the report's findings.

Bill History

2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee to the TACIR Calendar
2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Engrossed; ready for transmission to House
2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 30, Nays 1
2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0812)
2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/6/2026
2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026
2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly
Senate Reset on calendar for 4/6/2026
2026-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/30/2026
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/31/2026
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in Education Committee to 4/1/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/24/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 0
2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in Education Committee to 3/24/2026
2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/18/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/17/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Action deferred in Senate Education Committee to 3/18/2026
2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Education Committee
2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/11/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Education Administration Subcommittee for 3/10/2026
2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Education Administration Subcommittee to 3/10/2026
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Education Administration Subcommittee for 3/3/2026
2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Education Administration Subcommittee to Next Available Calendar
2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Education Administration Subcommittee for 2/17/2026
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Education Administration Subcommittee
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Education Committee
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-01-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON APRIL 6, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2122, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 r
ewrites this bill to require T
ACIR, in consultation with nutritional subject matter experts,
to
study:

(1) The prevalence of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and other substances, including artificial dyes and chemical additives, in food or drinks served through school nutrition programs; and

(2) The impacts that UPFs and other substances have on student health using scientific data.

This amendment requires
TACIR
to
prepare a report
based on the study and
submit
the report to
the members of the general assembly, the governor, and the legislative librarian no later than January 31, 2027.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SENATE BILL 2122
By Bowling

HOUSE BILL 2076
By Reeves
HB2076
011918
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
relative to school nutrition.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1.
The Tennessee K-12 nutrition task force is hereby established to evaluate the
prevalence of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and other substances in public school meal
programs and the impact of UPFs on student health.
SECTION 2.
(a) The task force shall consist of nine (9) members, appointed as follows:
(1) Two (2) members appointed by the chair of the senate health and
welfare committee;
(2) Two (2) members appointed by the chair of the committee of the
house of representatives having jurisdiction over health matters;
(3) Two (2) members appointed by the chair of the senate education
committee;
(4) Two (2) members appointed by the chair of the committee of the
house of representatives having jurisdiction over grade kindergarten through
twelve (K-12) matters; and
(5) One (1) member representing the Tennessee department of
education, appointed by the commissioner of education.
(b) A member of the task force must not have a financial interest in, or a conflict
of interest with, any food, beverage, or pharmaceutical manufacturing company.

- 2 - 011918

(c) The member appointed pursuant to subdivision (a)(5) shall call the first
meeting of the task force.
(d) At its first meeting, the task force shall elect a chair and vice chair from
among the appointed members.
(e) A majority of the members of the task force constitutes a quorum for the
transaction of business.
(f) The members of the task force receive no compensation for their service on
the task force, nor are the members entitled to per diem or travel expenses for the
purposes of carrying out their duties under this act.
(g) A member of the task force shall serve until the task force completes its
business and ceases to exist pursuant to Section 5. If a member of the task force is
unable to continue to serve, then the authority that appointed the member shall appoint a
replacement.
SECTION 3.
The task force shall:
(1) Identify the percentage of UPFs, artificial dyes, and chemical
additives currently included in K-12 school breakfasts and lunches;
(2) Review clinical data regarding the link between UPF consumption in
schools and rising rates of childhood obesity and metabolic dysfunction; and
(3) Develop actionable recommendations to transition school menus
toward whole-food alternatives.
SECTION 4.
No later than December 1, 2026, the task force shall submit a final report of its
findings and legislative recommendations to the governor and the legislative librarian, in
order to ensure consideration prior to the 2027 legislative session.

- 3 - 011918

SECTION 5.
The Tennessee K-12 nutrition task force ceases to exist on January 31, 2027.
SECTION 6. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.