[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6546881,"mediaKeyId","3426027-9240405df49a6167b7621750cbab4578","parentId",3426027,"title","Committee hears testimony on HB 4,369 to ban certain additives from taxpayer-funded school meals","audioSeconds",863,"startMs",878000,"endMs",1741000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426027-9240405df49a6167b7621750cbab4578&start=878&end=1741","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426027-9240405df49a6167b7621750cbab4578/thumbnail_878000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6546881/Michigan/Committee-hears-testimony-on-HB-4369-to-ban-certain-additives-from-taxpayer-funded-school-meals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546881-e07f58b2a4dc13c099ebbcaf55ef61eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770629631&Signature=kNIIvGdli9SWEmCzVpCwMtzxAH57pTibhaghfEJ3nT00a-f-LSdLZrukzt3cg7c0kW7hlzOGftXAkSNf9hcvVKUVl6GZzxn9~ABCYCV8uT6XeJMLDgrRchiGSP0GBIP9RqbTIQjG18xID~hhKVZEIkfzUETV1cEJz7xSmjlfTPP38pW2Uykf33Ce6HI9J~aCofnVa6t1XPSIKNvbpaQEMyXs4wTVguo9wkNysvHk6Cg5OyXfcMw~Ppx3bVdxOfsUKKEesx~jPV7wufJqKEmw~SGu0uuuKTUpg~wgu8XgTuCWhXzDl1sktCZtx4VW5Ge6qhglcaVg6RkChjAYte-K1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Michigan Legislature","date","2025-05-21T00:00:00Z","article","Lansing — The Michigan House Education and Workforce Committee on May 14 took testimony on House Bill 4,369, sponsored by Representative Jack Paquette, which would prohibit a list of synthetic additives and ultra-processed ingredients from taxpayer-funded school meals and other state-funded food programs.

The sponsor and multiple witnesses said the bill targets ingredients they described as harmful to children's health, including artificial food dyes, brominated vegetable oil, titanium dioxide and certain preservatives. Representative Paquette said the measure is modeled in part on California legislation and is intended to ensure that foods purchased with public funds are \"food, not additives.\"

\"Food is a medicine,\" Paquette said in opening remarks. \"If we have taxpayer dollars that are going to funding foods in our schools, we should at least ensure that they're nutritious and they're not harming our children's education and their development.\"

Multiple witnesses testified in favor. Liana Werner Gray, identified as a certified nutritionist, said schools now serve children foods \"filled with toxic additives, chemicals like Red 40, Blue 1 and 2, titanium dioxide, and brominated vegetable oil, right in their cafeterias,\" and characterized the issue as a public-health problem. \"This isn't just poor nutrition, it's poison,\" she told the committee.

Grace Price, an investigative journalist testifying remotely, urged lawmakers to act and said additives in ultra-processed foods can \"hijack the brain's reward pathways\" and create addiction-like behaviors. A psychiatric drug reform advocate identified as Danielle Ganske told the committee she believes poor food quality contributed to her childhood health issues and later psychiatric diagnoses; she said removing additives was a key part of her recovery.

Several witnesses cited studies and international regulatory actions. Testimony referenced a 2007 randomized, double-blind trial published in The Lancet linking artificial food colors and preservatives to increased hyperactivity in children, the Center for Science in the Public Interest's 2010 review of food dyes, and regulatory actions by the European Food Safety Authority. Witnesses also mentioned that brominated vegetable oil has been restricted in some jurisdictions.

Committee members focused questions on cost and implementation. Representative Colazar asked whether the bill should target third-party vendors who supply nearly half of school meals rather than imposing requirements on school districts. Representative Burns and others pressed about the potential cost increase for districts and whether the House Appropriations subcommittee on school aid has been consulted. Paquette said the bill's language could be adjusted and emphasized the need for a broader conversation on making healthy food accessible.

The sponsor told members the program is modeled after other states' laws and noted that some food companies already use vegetable-based colorings in other countries. He acknowledged there is not yet a House fiscal estimate in the record for the incremental cost to districts and said he would prioritize seeking funding or adjustments if the committee determines they are needed.

No committee vote was recorded on HB 4,369 during the hearing. Committee members asked for additional information on costs, vendor regulation options, and how the bill would affect districts with limited food-preparation facilities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Education and Workforce - 5/21/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Lansing — The Michigan House Education and Workforce Committee on May 14 took testimony on House Bill 4,369, which would prohibit certain synthetic additives from taxpayer-funded school meals.","taxTitle","2025 House Legislature MI, Michigan","taxId",77683,"location","Michigan","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6546884,"Committee hears testimony to codify Purple Star Schools program for military-connected students",211,202000,413000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426027-9240405df49a6167b7621750cbab4578&start=202&end=413","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426027-9240405df49a6167b7621750cbab4578/thumbnail_202000.jpg","/articles/6546884/Michigan/Committee-hears-testimony-to-codify-Purple-Star-Schools-program-for-military-connected-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546884-edef7e415e2aff1820461de296875e64/orig.mp4?Expires=1770629631&Signature=RFivbL5QjUASrfg99~XylM-OHA0knB2FBVYRyQjerwLwpCtQx-pCno4q0RwhZ1HyC96vee4M8HW6SSZJIZ8WzYK9IibOXm~UKi3PeipzHKJpqKhpOO6SN7y0-9AJ5vRi1WjdDT6IELQEK47wF-Jl2yjDJxYMumZczynr6sCds15psepgqfEb7obcQGcm65YJaeMiXUDB~miflM4BsPPzE7fwdr~kD0f1N~PV2uJKmpcsuSP-yBZ5T35eRg8IYfQcYvOc7a~G5MIZuwxYZOFy6fnqF9blzoEN3XOw60-BZiiA23sumZeKKwc8VAbuCuyyOZCjtQ~WFOGh3oZNcPhHqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lansing — The Michigan House Education and Workforce Committee on May 14 heard testimony on House Bill 4,367, sponsored by Representative Jack Paquette Wolford, which would codify the Purple Star Schools program to support military-connected students in K–12 schools.

The bill would formalize a permissive designation for schools that meet state criteria to identify and support students from military families, sponsors said. Shane Preston, Great Lakes regional liaison for the Defense State Liaison Office within the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, testified in support and urged the committee to pass the bill.

\"On behalf of the Department of Defense, we are in strong support of the policies reflected in House Bill 4,367,\" Preston said. He described Purple Star Schools as \"military friendly institutions that go above and beyond and meet the unique needs of these students.\" Preston said the program aligns state and federal policy to ease challenges military students face when families move frequently.

Sponsor Representative Wolford said many military families move two to three times in five years and that those moves can create curriculum gaps and inconsistent graduation requirements. \"For a military family arriving at a new duty station, seeking a Purple Star designated school offers a promise: your child will be welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed,\" he said.

Committee members asked about funding and staffing. Representative Wilson asked whether the bill included appropriations or conversations with the chair of the House subcommittee on school aid. Preston and Wolford responded that the Purple Star program already received funding in a prior state budget and has been implemented by the Michigan Department of Education, and that the department would be best positioned to quantify any additional costs.

Representative Burns asked whether the liaison role required by some Purple Star criteria would be an added duty for existing school staff. Preston said the program is locally administered and that districts \"can run the program as they see fit,\" noting that in some districts an existing staff member would take on the liaison role while other districts might have dedicated staff.

Preston also told the committee the program is established in many states: \"There are about 43 other states that have a Purple Star school program already.\" He noted the measure is intended to be low-cost and permissive, and that the Michigan Department of Education has already implemented the program under current budget authority.

No committee vote on House Bill 4,367 occurred during the hearing. The sponsor and the Department of Defense urged passage; committee members requested additional detail from the Michigan Department of Education about implementation and any incremental costs.

The meeting then moved to the next agenda item.","Lansing — The Michigan House Education and Workforce Committee on May 14 heard testimony on House Bill 4,367, sponsored by Representative Jack Paquette Wolford, which would codify the Purple Star Schools program to support military-connected students in K–12 schools.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee hears testimony on HB 4,369 to ban certain additives from taxpayer-funded school meals

Committee hears testimony to codify Purple Star Schools program for military-connected students