All Roll Calls
Yes: 246 • No: 2
CaliforniaAB 12642025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Pupil nutrition.
Sponsored By: Jesse Gabriel (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Free school meals for all students
Beginning with the 2022–23 school year, every K–12 student can get one free breakfast and one free lunch each schoolday. Meals must meet federal rules and qualify for reimbursement. If an independent study student is scheduled on site for 2 or more hours during meal times, the school must make both meals available. New charter schools can get technical help and a short‑term contract so their students can get meals; contracts only cover actual costs not paid by state or federal meal funds. Schools can apply for all eligible state and federal meal funds. The state pays meal reimbursements when money is appropriated, and schools must run monthly direct‑certification matching to receive state funds. The state also seeks a USDA waiver so on schooldays of 4 hours or less, one reimbursable meal may be served outside the cafeteria if USDA approves.
Healthier school meals, fewer additives
Starting December 31, 2027, school breakfasts and lunches that count as nutritionally adequate cannot contain these color additives: Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, or Yellow 6. USDA Foods in Schools items are excluded from that color ban. Starting July 1, 2035, nutritionally adequate school breakfasts and lunches cannot include restricted school foods or ultraprocessed foods of concern. Also beginning July 1, 2035, foods served or sold under the federal school lunch and breakfast programs, and competitive entrées, cannot include restricted or ultraprocessed foods of concern, except USDA Foods in Schools items.
Statewide phaseout of ultraprocessed school foods
The health department must define “ultraprocessed foods of concern” and “restricted school foods” by June 1, 2028 using health evidence and public input. Schools must start phasing out those items by July 1, 2029. Vendors must stop offering them to schools on July 1, 2032. Vendors that sell to schools must file annual product reports from 2028 through 2032; small businesses, cottage foods, and microenterprise home kitchens are exempt. The department publishes yearly progress reports from 2028 to 2032 and reviews the definitions at least every five years; new items get a three‑year delay before taking effect. The state provides training and technical help for school food staff. If the state mandates costs, local agencies and districts can receive reimbursement under state procedures. The law does not create a private right to sue for violations of these sections.
Healthier snacks and drinks at school
From midnight before school to 30 minutes after it ends, schools can only sell healthier snacks and drinks. Snacks must have no more than 35% of calories from fat, under 10% from saturated fat, no more than 35% of weight from sugar, under 0.5 g trans fat, and meet sodium and calorie caps (generally ≤200 mg sodium and ≤200 calories per item for snacks). Entrées sold the same day or next day from the federal menu are capped at 400 calories and 35% of calories from fat; other competitive entrées are capped at 350 calories and 480 mg sodium. Elementary and middle schools may sell water; milk or similar nondairy milk (8 fl oz for elementary, 12 fl oz for middle); and 50% juice drinks with no added sweeteners. High schools may sell water; milk and 50% juice (12 fl oz); and some flavored waters or electrolyte drinks that meet calorie limits—sodas and colas are not allowed. Caffeine is not allowed except for natural traces. Starting December 31, 2027, foods and drinks sold to students cannot contain Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, or Yellow 6. Starting July 1, 2035, competitive foods and drinks may not be restricted or ultraprocessed foods of concern. Fundraisers may sell noncomplying items off campus or at least 30 minutes after school ends.
Option to buy a second entrée
After a student gets a school meal, the school may sell an extra entrée from another nutritionally adequate, federally reimbursable meal in the same meal service. This option is available in middle and high schools and may also be offered more broadly. It is optional and costs money. It does not create a second free meal.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Jesse Gabriel
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Dawn Addis
Democratic • House
Benjamin Allen
Democratic • Senate
Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Democratic • House
Marc Berman
Democratic • House
Phillip Chen
Republican • House
Damon Connolly
Democratic • House
Heath Flora
Republican • House
James Gallagher
Republican • House
Heather Hadwick
Republican • House
Josh Hoover
Republican • House
Ash Kalra
Democratic • House
Alex Lee
Democratic • House
Josh Lowenthal
Democratic • House
Stephen Padilla
Democratic • Senate
Joe Patterson
Republican • House
Cottie Petrie-Norris
Democratic • House
Sasha Renée Pérez
Democratic • Senate
Kate Sanchez
Republican • House
Avelino Valencia
Democratic • House
Suzette Martinez Valladares
Republican • Senate
Akilah Weber Pierson
Democratic • Senate
Buffy Wicks
Democratic • House
Scott Wiener
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 9/12/2025
Item 141 — Assembly AFLOOR
Yes: 79 • No: 1
Senate vote • 9/11/2025
Item 158 — Senate SFLOOR
Yes: 40 • No: 0
legislature vote • 9/9/2025
Vote in CS60
Yes: 10 • No: 0
legislature vote • 8/29/2025
Vote in CS61
Yes: 5 • No: 0
legislature vote • 8/18/2025
Vote in CS61
Yes: 7 • No: 0
legislature vote • 7/16/2025
Vote in CS64
Yes: 7 • No: 0
legislature vote • 7/2/2025
Vote in CS44
Yes: 7 • No: 0
House vote • 6/3/2025
Item 118 — Assembly AFLOOR
Yes: 65 • No: 1
legislature vote • 5/23/2025
Vote in CX25
Yes: 12 • No: 0
legislature vote • 4/29/2025
Vote in CX05
Yes: 6 • No: 0
legislature vote • 4/9/2025
Vote in CX03
Yes: 8 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 467, Statutes of 2025.
10/8/2025SenateApproved by the Governor.
10/8/2025legislatureEnrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
9/24/2025legislatureSenate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 1. Page 3388.).
9/12/2025HouseIn Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
9/12/2025HouseRead third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2916.).
9/11/2025SenateFrom committee: That the measure be returned to Senate Floor for consideration. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (September 9)
9/9/2025Senate(Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 2570.)
9/8/2025SenateRe-referred to Com. on HEALTH pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(b).
9/8/2025SenateRe-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(b).
9/8/2025SenateRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
9/8/2025SenateRead third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
9/4/2025SenateRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
8/29/2025SenateFrom committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (August 29).
8/29/2025SenateIn committee: Referred to suspense file.
8/18/2025SenateRead second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
7/18/2025SenateFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 16).
7/18/2025SenateFrom committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.Q. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.
7/2/2025SenateFrom committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on ED.
6/23/2025SenateReferred to Coms. on ED. and E.Q.
6/18/2025SenateIn Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
6/4/2025SenateRead third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 65. Noes 1. Page 1989.)
6/3/2025HouseRead third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. (Page 1789.)
5/29/2025HouseRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
5/27/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (May 23).
5/23/2025House
Bill Text
Chaptered
10/8/2025
Enrolled
9/16/2025
Amended Senate
9/4/2025
Amended Senate
7/18/2025
Amended Senate
6/23/2025
Amended Assembly
5/29/2025
Amended Assembly
4/21/2025
Amended Assembly
3/28/2025
Introduced
2/21/2025