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Bill

A 1155

Prevents fees from being charged for the issuance of certain license plates

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe DeStefano and 2 co-sponsors

Requires restaurants to include a healthy default beverage with children’s meals to reduce sugary beverage consumption.

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 1155

Note: The bill header references a different topic (license plates), but the introduced text of A-1155 concerns children’s nutrition and beverage requirements in children’s meals. The summary below reflects the introduced version content.

Overview
- Bill: A-1155
- Title (introduced): An Act concerning children’s nutrition and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes
- Purpose: To require restaurants to include a healthy default beverage with any meal designated for children, in an effort to reduce sugary beverage consumption and improve nutritional quality in meals for minors.
- Status: Introduced January 9, 2024; currently referred to Transportation (per the latest action record)

Key Provisions

1) Findings and Purpose
- Recognizes high rates of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in New Jersey.
- Cites health risks associated with sugary beverages and notes families’ limited time to prepare meals.
- Argues that providing a healthy default beverage with children’s meals can improve dietary quality.

2) Definitions
- “Children’s meal”: A combined meal (food and beverage) sold together at a single price primarily intended for children.
- “Default beverage”: The beverage automatically included with the children’s meal in the absence of a purchaser’s request for an alternative.
- “Restaurant”: Defined as in existing law (Section 1 of P.L.1983, c.488).

3) Default Beverage Requirements
- A restaurant shall not sell a children’s meal unless the default beverage is one of:
1. Water, sparkling water, or flavored water with no added natural or artificial sweeteners.
2. Nonfat or 1% milk or a non-dairy milk alternative containing no more than 130 calories per container/serving.
3. 100% fruit juice or fruit juice combined with water or carbonated water, with no added sweeteners, in a serving size of up to eight ounces.
- Restaurants may still offer beverages other than the default beverage for the meal; the prohibition applies to the default beverage specification, not to overall beverage options.

4) Enforcement and Rulemaking
- The Commissioner of Health is tasked with adopting rules and regulations under the Administrative Procedure Act to enforce the provisions of the act.

5) Effective Date
- The act takes effect on the first day of the sixth month after enactment.

Sponsors and Related Legislation
- Primary sponsor: Angelo Santabarbara
- Co-sponsors: Nader Sayegh, Joe DeStefano
- Related bills: S 1938 (companion); A 8553, A 1703, A 1050 (prior sessions)

Impact and Implications

  • Public Health: Aims to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage intake among children, potentially lowering obesity risk and improving nutrient intake.
  • Restaurants: Requires changes to default beverage options for children’s meals and compliance with state health regulations; potential administrative and labeling considerations.
  • Consumers: Maintains freedom to purchase other beverages beyond the default option, preserving choice while nudging healthier defaults.
  • Timeline: If enacted, regulations would be established by the Department of Health; operative date is six months after enactment.

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

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