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Massachusetts · 194th Legislature (2025-2026) · Bill

H 2496: An Act prohibiting harmful food dyes in competitive school foods

In committee Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

H 2496 is a bill introduced in the Massachusetts House on February 27, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: An Act prohibiting harmful food dyes in competitive school foods. Primary sponsor: Joe McKenna (Republican). It lists 10 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (March 16, 2026): Accompanied a study order, see H5234.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

By Representative McKenna of Sutton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2496) of Joseph D. McKenna relative to the sale or provision of certain competitive foods at schools. Public Health.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 6 · Republican 5

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Joe McKennaPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse18th Worcester
James Arena-DeRosaCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse8th Middlesex
Shirley ArriagaCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse8th Hampden
Jamie EldridgeCo-sponsorDemocraticSenateMiddlesex and Worcester
Natalie HigginsCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse4th Worcester
Steven HowittCo-sponsorRepublicanHouse4th Bristol
Patrick KearneyCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse4th Plymouth
John MarsiCo-sponsorRepublicanHouse6th Worcester
Patrick O'ConnorCo-sponsorRepublicanSenateFirst Plymouth and Norfolk
Margaret ScarsdaleCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse1st Middlesex
Steve XiarhosCo-sponsorRepublicanHouse5th Barnstable

“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. Accompanied a study order, see H5234
  2. Hearing rescheduled to 09/10/2025 from 10:00 AM-01:35 PM in B-2 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
  3. Hearing scheduled for 09/10/2025 from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM in B-2
  4. Senate concurred
  5. Referred to the committee on Public Health

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source