Two of our top 2022 Colorado legislative priorities are on the move.
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Last week, the Senate Education Committee referred the Healthy School Meals for All bill to the Appropriations Committee on a 5-2 vote.
Healthy School Meals for All (SB-87) will benefit hundreds of thousands of kids each day, eliminate the stigma some kids experience through participation in the free and reduced-price schools meal program, and be a major step forward to eliminating health inequities in our schools.
Food insecurity is at an all-time high, and proper nutrition is critical to children’s short- and long-term health outcomes. Students who participate in school meals, particularly those who are experiencing food insecurity, have better health outcomes, have improved test scores, and are better able to concentrate in school.
Additionally, HB-1064, which would end the sale of all flavored tobacco products, which target youth, keep adults addicted to nicotine, and disproportionately impact communities of color, passed out of the House Health & Insurance Committee and will be heard in the Finance Committee next week.
However, there were several amendments added to the bill that water down its effectiveness, including an exemption for pipe tobacco and premium cigars and an exemption for age-restricted stores. While we are not supportive of any of these amendments, the age-restricted store exemption is especially troubling as it would still allow for the continued sale of these products broadly across Colorado. We will be focusing efforts on removing this exemption as the bill continues through the process.
Please look out for emails from us as we as we work towards a stronger version of the bill that protects youth, communities of color and current tobacco users, who are targeted relentlessly by tobacco and vaping companies.
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