House Engrossed

public schools; ultraprocessed foods

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

2025

HOUSE BILL 2164

An Act

amending title 15, chapter 2, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-242.01; relating to the department of education.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 15, chapter 2, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-242.01, to read:

START_STATUTE15-242.01. Ultraprocessed foods; prohibition; definition

A. Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, any school that participates in a federally funded or assisted meal program shall not serve, sell or allow a third party to sell ultraprocessed food on the school campus during the normal school day.  This subsection does not prevent a student's parent or guardian from providing ultraprocessed food to the student during the normal school day.

B. The department of education shall post on the department's website both of the following:

1. A standardized form that a public school may use to certify that the public school is complying with the requirements prescribed by this section.

2. A list of each public school that has certified to the department that the public school is complying with the requirements prescribed by this sectionshall post on the department's website both of the following:

1. A standardized form that a public school may use to certify that the public school is complying with the requirements prescribed by this section.

2. A list of each public school that has certified to the department that the public school is complying with the requirements prescribed by this section.

C. For the purposes of this section, "ultraprocessed food" means a food or beverage that contains one or more of the following ingredients:

1. Potassium bromate.

2. Propylparaben.

3. Titanium dioxide.

4. Brominated vegetable oil.

5. Yellow dye 5.

6. Yellow dye 6.

7. Blue dye 1.

8. Blue dye 2.

9. Green dye 3.

10. Red dye 3.

11. Red dye 40. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Legislative findings

The legislature finds that:

1. Childhood obesity, morbidity and wellness are matters of statewide concern.

2. Ultraprocessed, industrially manufactured, nutrient-depleted food with synthetic additives is undernourishing minors at public schools and contributing to childhood obesity.

3. Any taxpayer-funded meal or snack program offered to minors at public schools in this state should be nutritious and made primarily of whole, minimally processed plant or animal products.

Sec. 3. Short title

This act may be cited as the "Arizona Healthy Schools Act".