AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1990

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jackie Baginski and 9 co-sponsors

HB 5455 bans selling foods prepared with frying oils containing artificial trans fats, pushing eateries to switch oils and reduce diners' trans fat exposure.

02/12/2025 Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections

HB 5455 — Summary

Overview

HB 5455 is a proposed act titled AN ACT PROHIBITING FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS FROM SELLING FOOD PREPARED WITH FRYING OILS CONTAINING ARTIFICIAL TRANS FATS. The bill would bar the sale of foods prepared using frying oils that contain artificial trans fats, aiming to reduce trans fat consumption through regulatory action on food service establishments.

Purpose and Intent

Reduce public health risks associated with artificial trans fats by prohibiting the sale of foods prepared with frying oils containing them.

Align local food safety and nutrition standards with evidence suggesting health benefits from limiting artificial trans fats in restaurant foods.

Key Provisions (as introduced)

Prohibition: Food service establishments would be prohibited from selling food that is prepared using frying oils containing artificial trans fats.

Scope: Applies to foods offered for sale by food service establishments (specific definitions of “food service establishments” and “artificial trans fats” would be defined in the bill’s text).

Compliance and Enforcement: The bill’s text would specify enforcement mechanisms, penalties, and compliance timelines, but those details are not included in the provided summary.

Exemptions and Administrative Details: Any potential exemptions, regulatory processes, or transitional provisions would be defined in the enacted text; not specified here.

Affected Parties

Primary: Food service establishments (e.g., restaurants, cafeterias, takeout venues) that prepare and sell food.

Secondary: Food suppliers (oils and ingredients) and consumers who purchase prepared foods.

Potential impacts include (depending on final text): costs to switch to oils without artificial trans fats, changes to kitchen practices, and potential price effects on menu items.

Procedural History and Status

Filed: March 14, 2025.

Introduced and referred to Joint Committee on Public Health (initial referral date: January 17, 2025, with subsequent status updates).

Legislative actions:

January 17, 2025: Referral to Joint Committee on Public Health.
March 14, 2025: Filed.
April 7, 2025: Read first time; referred to Insurance (in addition to the Public Health referral).

Current status: In committee consideration (Public Health) with an additional referral to Insurance; no final floor action noted in the provided data.

Next Steps and Timeline

The bill would proceed to committee hearings, stakeholder comment, and potential amendments.

If advanced, it would move to the chamber for floor debate and votes, followed by the other chamber (if applicable) and potential reconciliation.

Final enactment would require signature or veto overrides per the governing process.

Notes for Readers

The summary reflects information available from the bill’s introductory materials and listed legislative actions. Details on definitions, penalties, effective dates, exemptions, and enforcement would appear in the full bill text and any amendments adopted during committee review.