Republican lawmakers have struck a deal on Gov. Kim Reynolds’ “Make America Healthy Again” bill that would limit which foods Iowans can buy with food assistance dollars, allow over the counter ivermectin and make changes to school lunches.
“I believe it’s going to be the largest MAHA initiative that any state has taken so far across this country,” said Rep. Austin Harris, R-Moulton. “It’s going to prioritize that we have access to healthy foods across this state and make sure that we’re doing best by our children in our school system by making sure that they’re physically active and eating good foods.”
House lawmakers voted 61-31 on April 20 to pass the bill. The vote sends the bill back to the Iowa Senate, which must pass it again before it can go to Reynolds for her signature.
Here’s what the bill does.
Limits on which foods Iowans can buy with SNAP
The bill seeks to make permanent Iowa’s federal waiver that prevents Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients from using their food assistance dollars to buy unhealthy foods such as pop and candy.
Iowa’s current waiver took effect Jan. 1. It restricts Iowans from using SNAP dollars to buy foods defined as taxable by the Iowa Department of Revenue.
The state would have to continuously request a waiver from the federal government to maintain the restrictions, if the bill becomes law.
The bill would also end Iowa’s participation in the federal Summer EBT program, which feeds low-income children during the summer, if the federal government rescinds Iowa’s waiver.
“This Senate amendment would have us decide whether or not we feed our children based on the decision of a Washington bureaucrat,” said Rep. Austin Baeth, D-Des Moines. “Well, I personally would love to stand up for the kids of Iowa. I personally would love to make sure that every single child in Iowa is fed regardless of what the feds say.”
Harris said the previous version of the bill passed by the House had similar language and that “Mountain Dew and Skittles” do not alleviate food insecurity.
“We want to ensure that we are codifying our current practice with the summer EBT program that ensures that only healthy foods are eligible,” he said.
Iowans could get ivermectin over the counter
Iowans could buy ivermectin over the counter without a prescription, if the bill becomes law.
The bill says pharmacists and pharmacies would not be subject to professional discipline or civil or criminal penalties for distributing ivermectin.
Certain food dyes like red dye 40 would be banned from school lunches
Schools would not be able to serve foods and drinks containing certain artificial dyes and ingredients.
The ban would apply to school breakfasts and lunches and would prevent school vendors or employees from providing food or drinks to students that contain the dyes.
The dyes and additives that would be prohibited include blue dye 1 and 2, green dye 3, potassium bromate, propylparaben, red dye 40 and yellow dye 5 and 6.
Schools could allow foods containing the dyes and ingredients to be sold on campus as long as the sales take place outside the school day.
K-5 students would be limited to 60 minutes of digital learning per day
Students in kindergarten through fifth grade would see their digital instruction time cut to an hour each day, under the bill.
Reynolds already signed a law last year restricting cell phones in Iowa schools during class time. The new legislation would apply to instructional technology such as tablets or laptops used to educate children.
The bill directs the Iowa Departments of Education and Health and Human Services to convene a working group to study the impact of technology on cognitive functioning and academic performance of students in sixth through 12th graders.
PE class must include the Presidential Fitness Test
Students’ physical education curriculum would be required to include the Presidential Fitness Test, which President Donald Trump revived via executive order in 2025.
The bill also includes nutrition education requirements for medical schools and continuing education in nutrition for medical professionals.
And it allows trained school personnel to deliver epinephrine, either through an EpiPen or another method, like a nasal spray.
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa GOP backs Reynolds’ MAHA plan reshaping SNAP, school food and PE
Reporting by Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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