BILL AS INTRODUCED H.417 2025 Page 1 of 3 VT LEG #380660 v.1 H.417 1 Introduced by Representatives Cole of Hartford, Priestley of Bradford, Bishop 2 of Colchester, Burtt of Cabot, Casey of Montpelier, Cina of 3 Burlington, Dobrovich of Williamstown, Eastes of Guilford, 4 Logan of Burlington, Masland of Thetford, McGill of Bridport, 5 Morgan, L. of Milton, Morrow of Weston, O’Brien of 6 Tunbridge, Pouech of Hinesburg, Surprenant of Barnard, Toof 7 of St. Albans Town, and Waszazak of Barre City 8 Referred to Committee on 9 Date: 10 Subject: Education; health; nutrition; food programs; competitive food; 11 artificial dyes 12 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to prohibit the 13 use of certain artificial dyes in competitive food and food and beverages served 14 as part of a school district or an approved independent school’s food programs. 15 An act relating to prohibiting certain artificial dyes in foods and beverages 16 served or sold at school 17 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 18 Sec. 1. 16 V.S.A. § 1264b is added to read: 19 § 1264b. ARTIFICIAL DYES 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.417 2025 Page 2 of 3 VT LEG #380660 v.1 (a) In operating its school lunch and breakfast program, pursuant to the 1 National School Lunch Act, as amended, and the Child Nutrition Act, as 2 amended, respectively, or selling competitive food, a school district and an 3 approved independent school shall not serve a food or beverage during the 4 school day containing one or more of the following substances: 5 (1) Blue 1 (CAS 3844-45-9); 6 (2) Blue 2 (CAS 860-22-0); 7 (3) Green 3 (CAS 2353-45-9); 8 (4) Red 40 (CAS 25956-17-6); 9 (5) Yellow 5 (CAS 1934-21-0); and 10 (6) Yellow 6 (CAS 2783-94-0). 11 (b) Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to those foods or 12 beverages sold or served away from a school campus or at least one half-hour 13 after the school day until 12:00 midnight. 14 (c) As used in this section: 15 (1) “Competitive food” has the same meaning as in 7 C.F.R. § 210.11. 16 (2) “School day,” as pertains to public schools, shall be defined by the 17 school district pursuant to subsection 1071(b) of this title, and as pertains to 18 approved independent schools, means the hours fixed by a school for 19 instruction each day. 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.417 2025 Page 3 of 3 VT LEG #380660 v.1 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE 1 This act shall take effect on July 1, 2027. 2