School nutrition bills --- and a head scratcher

Last session in Annapolis there was a large slate of school nutrition related bills perking in Annapolis - many of them getting their origins and energy from a grassroots group - Healthy School Foods-Maryland.  Here's a link to that groups website:
http://www.realfoodforkidsmontgomery.org/hsfmd.php

This year the number of school nutrition bills is smaller - focused more narrowly on transparency/notice - to require school systems to clearly list the name/brand/flavor (i.e. Cool Ranch Doritos) of the ala carte items sold to students in school cafeterias, and reducing the overall amount of sugar in the school meals served daily.  Here's a quick summary:

HB 109 – Public Schools – Food Transparency -  sponsor Del. Fennell

The bill would require schools to include on school menus a list of all ala carte items sold in school cafeterias. When ala carte items are sold in the original packaging the information would include the brand name and flavor of the item (i.e. – Cool Ranch Doritos). 

Here is a link to the bill’s page on the GA website:

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?id=hb0109&stab=01&pid=billpage&tab=subject3&ys=2016RS

The bill is assigned to the House Ways and Means committee, and had an initial hearing on 2/4.  As of 2/6 there is no Senate cross-file.  Here is a link to the Ways and Means committee members – each name is a hyperlink to their contact information:

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=cmtepage&stab=04&id=w%26m&tab=subject3&ys=2016RS

HB528 – Sensible Sugar in Schools Act  - Del. Ebersole

This bill would require each local school district to add to its federally mandated wellness policy a plan to reduce the amount of sugar in school meals and ala carte items served in cafeterias.  The school districts would develop these plans based on American Heart Association guidelines, and the recommendations of a workgroup – convened by each school system – to identify best practices around reducing total sugar in school meals.

Here is a link to the bill’s page on the GA website:

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=billpage&tab=subject3&id=hb0528&stab=01&ys=2016RS

The bill is assigned to the House Ways and Means committee and is set for hearing on 2/18.  Here is a link to the Ways and Means committee members – each name is a hyperlink to their contact information:

http://mgaleg.maryland.goEv/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=cmtepage&stab=04&id=w%26m&tab=subject3&ys=2016RS

Though it is not listed as a crossfile, HB528 is identical to SB65 – the Suger Free Schools Act. 

SB65 – Sugar Free Schools Act – Senator Young

Identical to  HB528 - Sensible Sugar in Schools Act. Here is a link to the bill page on the GA website:
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?id=sb0065&stab=01&pid=billpage&tab=subject3&ys=2016RS

SB65 was heard by the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs committee on 1/20. As of 2/6 there's been no further action. Here is a link to the EHEA committee members – each name is a hyperlink to their contact information:

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=cmtepage&stab=04&id=ehe&tab=subject3&ys=2016RS

And finally -- this is one of those bills that I read and think 'that's a thing people are worried about? Who knew?'

HB349 – Java Act -                       Del. Grammer

The bill would prohibit any Executive Branch agency from banning or regulating the sale of caffeinated beverages at career exploration and development activities at public high schools.

Here is a link to the bill’s page on the GA website:

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?id=hb0349&stab=01&pid=billpage&tab=subject3&ys=2016RS
 
The bill is assigned to the House Ways and Means committee, and is set for an initial hearing on 2/11.  As of 2/1 there is no Senate cross-file