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SB 764

Appropriations: department of licensing and regulatory affairs; appropriations for fiscal year 2024-2025; provide for. Creates appropriation act.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Mary Cavanagh

SB 764 requires chain restaurants with 20+ locations to offer and clearly label at least one healthier kids’ meal meeting nutrition limits and train staff by 7/1/2026.

Senate conferees named 06/04/2024: Sens. Mary Cavanagh Sarah Anthony Jon Bumstead
#appropriations:departmentoflicensingandregulatoryaffairs
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Bill Summary · SB 764

SB 764 — Chain restaurants: children’s meals (Weber / Pierson)

Summary: SB 764 requires chain restaurants to offer and clearly identify at least one healthier children’s meal meeting specified nutrition and portion standards, and to train employees on those requirements. The standards are informed by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the National Restaurant Association’s 2021 Kids LiveWell 2.0 guidance.

Purpose

Reduce excess calories, sodium, saturated fat and added sugar in children’s meals sold by chain restaurants and increase availability and visibility of nutritionally balanced children’s meal options.

Key provisions

  • Definitions (Health & Safety Code §114379.10):
    • “Chain restaurant” = part of a chain with 20+ locations doing business under the same name and offering substantially the same menu items.
    • “Children’s meal” = food(s) plus a beverage sold together at a single price, primarily intended for a child.
    • Existing “default beverage” rules (e.g., water or unflavored milk) remain in place.
  • New nutrition standards (§114379.35):
    • A chain restaurant that sells children’s meals must offer at least one children’s meal that meets these limits:
    • ≤ 550 calories
    • ≤ 700 mg sodium
    • ≤ 10% of calories from saturated fat
    • ≤ 15 grams added sugar
    • 0 grams trans fat
    • The qualifying meal must include at least two of the following servings:
    • ≥ 1/2 cup fruit (100% juice counts)
    • ≥ 1/2 cup vegetables
    • ≥ 1/2 cup nonfat or low-fat dairy
    • A meat or meat alternative equivalent to at least: 1 oz meat/poultry/seafood, 1 egg, 1/4 cup soy/pulses, 2 tbsp nut butter, or 1 oz nuts/seeds
    • ≥ 8 grams whole grains that are ≥50% whole grain or list whole grains first ingredient
  • Menu identification:
    • The qualifying children’s meal must be clearly identified with an icon/symbol and accompanying text displayed prominently next to or directly under the item name; the icon/text height must be no smaller than the largest letter in the item name.
  • Employee training (§114379.36):
    • By July 1, 2026, chain restaurants must include information on complying with these requirements in new-employee and ongoing training.

Who is affected

  • Directly: chain restaurants (20+ locations) that sell children’s meals.
  • Indirectly: consumers (families/children), local enforcement agencies (responsible for enforcement under the California Retail Food Code), and restaurant staff (training requirement).

Enforcement, penalties, and fiscal impact

  • Violations of the California Retail Food Code (including children’s meal provisions) are infractions.
  • The bill creates new offenses (infractions), which the bill treats as a state‑mandated local program; however it states no state reimbursement is required under Article XIII B because the only local costs arise from creation/adjustment of infractions.
  • Legislative digests indicate no direct appropriation; fiscal committees reviewed the bill.

Timing and procedure

  • Training compliance deadline: on or before July 1, 2026.
  • Bill documents show committee activity (Health and Appropriations) in spring–summer 2025. (Provided materials include multiple committee reports and floor digests.)

Note: The assembled materials included multiple versions and unrelated items from other jurisdictions; this summary focuses on the SB 764 text establishing children’s meal nutrition and menu/ training requirements.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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