HB 642: Georgia Dye Free School Meals Act; enact

Georgia public primary and secondary schools currently face no state restriction on food dyes in the meals and snacks they serve. This bill would change that by adding a new section to Georgia law that bars public schools from serving, selling, or letting a third party serve or sell any food or beverage containing one of seven specified synthetic dyes: Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, or Yellow 6. The ban applies on school grounds during the regular school day and as part of school breakfast programs, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. Parents and guardians could still bring dyed food or drinks to their own children or provide them for school or classroom events. The Department of Education would create a standardized form for schools to certify compliance and would publish a list of certified schools on its website. The bill also states legislative findings that synthetic dyes may contribute to hyperactivity and other behavioral effects in some children.

• Bans public primary and secondary schools from serving or selling food or drinks containing any of seven listed synthetic dyes, or letting a third party do so.
• Applies the ban to school grounds during the regular school day and to school breakfast programs starting in the 2026-2027 school year.
• Allows parents or guardians to bring dyed food or drinks for their own child or for a school or classroom event, exempting that scenario from the ban.
• Directs the Department of Education to create a standardized certification form and publish a public list of schools that certify compliance.
• States legislative findings linking synthetic food dyes to hyperactivity, inattention, and other behavioral effects in some children.

Public primary and secondary schools and their food service operations, students who eat school meals and snacks, parents and guardians who send food with their children, third-party food vendors serving schools, and the Georgia Department of Education, which must create the certification system.

If enacted, school cafeterias and vendors would need to review ingredients and remove products containing the seven listed dyes from meals and breakfast programs sold on campus, changing what food options are available to students starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

• Section 1 names the bill the 'Georgia Dye Free School Meals Act.'
• Section 2 lays out legislative findings that synthetic dyes can affect children's behavior and that school meals should support cognitive and behavioral development.
• Section 3 adds new Code Section 20-2-779.5, defining 'synthetic dye' as Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, or Yellow 6.
• Section 3(b) bans serving or selling food or beverages with these dyes on school grounds during the school day or breakfast program, effective the 2026-2027 school year.
• Section 3(c) exempts food or drinks brought by a parent or guardian for their own child or for a school or classroom event.
• Section 3(d) requires the Department of Education to develop a compliance certification form and publish a list of certified schools online.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-02-28House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
2. 2025-02-27House First Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
3. 2025-02-26House Hopper (Cámara de Representantes)

• Marvin Lim (D, HD-098)Patrocinador principal
• Kasey Carpenter (R, HD-004)
• Michelle Au (D, HD-050)

• school meals
• food dyes
• student health
• public schools
• child nutrition