SB 977: Chain restaurants: children’s meals.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law, the California Retail Food Code, establishes uniform health and sanitation standards for, and provides for regulation by the State Department of Public Health of, retail food facilities, as defined, and requires local enforcement agencies to enforce these provisions. Existing law requires a restaurant that sells a children’s meal that includes a beverage to make the default beverage water, sparkling water, or flavored water, as specified, or unflavored milk or a nondairy milk alternative, as specified. A violation of the code’s provisions related to children’s meals is an infraction.

This bill would require a chain restaurant, as defined, that sells a children’s meal to offer at least one children’s meal that meets specified minimum nutrition standards, including, among others, that the meal not contain more than 550 calories and that the meal include at least 2 servings of specified types and quantities of food. The bill would require a chain restaurant that sells a children’s meal, on or before July 1, 2027, to include information to its employees on how to comply with those requirements.

By creating new crimes, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 28, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 724, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 28, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 724, Statutes of 2026.
3. September 28, 2026Approved by the Governor.
4. September 28, 2026Approved by the Governor.
5. August 27, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.
6. August 27, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.
7. August 24, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 5683.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
8. August 24, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
9. August 19, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
10. August 19, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
11. August 19, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 1. Page 6265.) Ordered to the Senate.
12. August 19, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 1. Page 6265.) Ordered to the Senate.