Texas HB5378 mandates public schools to notify parents about specific food additives in meals and establish a grace period for meal card balances.

Texas HB5378 amends the Education Code to require school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to inform parents about ingredients in school meals that are labeled as carcinogenic, endocrine disrupting, or hyperactivity-inducing. The bill also mandates that school districts with meal card systems adopt a grace period policy, allowing students to continue purchasing meals even if their card balance is insufficient. This policy must include notifying parents of exhausted balances and prohibiting fees or interest charges. The provisions apply starting from the 2025-2026 school year.

Texas HB5378 mandates public schools to notify parents about specific food additives in meals and establish a grace period for meal card balances.

Texas HB5378 amends the Education Code to require school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to inform parents about ingredients in school meals that are labeled as carcinogenic, endocrine disrupting, or hyperactivity-inducing. The bill also mandates that school districts with meal card systems adopt a grace period policy, allowing students to continue purchasing meals even if their card balance is insufficient. This policy must include notifying parents of exhausted balances and prohibiting fees or interest charges. The provisions apply starting from the 2025-2026 school year.