Food Chemical Bans · Texas
Texas School Food Dye Restriction
HB 4036 - enacted in Texas.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2025
- Enacted
- 8
- States with food chemical bans laws
- 69/100
- Texas strictness
The bottom line
Texas School Food Dye Restriction is an enacted law in Texas, part of a still-emerging food chemical bans landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2025-09-01
- 8
- states have food chemical bans laws
- 8/11
- food chemical bans laws enacted nationally
- 69/100
- Texas strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Texas legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Texas School Food Dye Restriction
Texas School Food Dye Restriction (HB 4036) is an enacted law in Texas under the Food Chemical Bans category. It was enacted on 2025-06-10 and becomes effective on 2025-09-01. Texas currently reports 5 tracked regulations with 5 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 69/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 8 food chemical bans statutes have been enacted and 3 additional bills remain pending - 8 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places Texas within a still-emerging food chemical bans landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in HB 4036 itself.
Applicability under Texas School Food Dye Restriction: TX public school districts in federal meal programs. Penalty exposure is documented as: TX Education Agency enforcement. Notable exemptions: Competitive food sales and fundraisers..
Summary
Restricts synthetic dyes from school meal programs.
Key Requirements
No Red 3/40, Yellow 5/6, Blue 1/2, Green 3 in school meals.
Penalties
TX Education Agency enforcement.
Applicability
TX public school districts in federal meal programs.
Exemptions
Competitive food sales and fundraisers.
How Texas compares on food chemical bans
8 states regulate food chemical bans - Texas ranks #2 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Texas (this state) | 69 |
| 3 | Illinois | 62 |
| 4 | New York | 62 |
| 5 | Delaware | 59 |
| 6 | Virginia | 59 |
| 7 | Utah | 55 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 31 |
| 9 | Arizona | 28 |
| 10 | Louisiana | 28 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have food chemical bans regulations?
As of the last verification, 8 states have enacted food chemical bans regulations, with 3 additional bills pending across other states. Texas is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all food chemical bans regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was Texas School Food Dye Restriction enacted?
Texas School Food Dye Restriction was enacted on 2025-06-10 and became effective on 2025-09-01. It was introduced as HB 4036.
What are the penalties for violating Texas School Food Dye Restriction?
TX Education Agency enforcement. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Texas School Food Dye Restriction apply to small businesses?
TX public school districts in federal meal programs. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does Texas compare to other states on food chemical bans?
Texas has a regulatory strictness score of 69/100, based on 5 enacted regulations out of 5 tracked. Nationally, 8 states have enacted food chemical bans laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of Texas School Food Dye Restriction?
The official text of Texas School Food Dye Restriction (HB 4036) is available from the Texas legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More Texas Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for food chemical bans compliance.
- Texas School Food Dye Restriction is enacted in Texas, effective 2025-09-01. Official source
- 8 states now regulate food chemical bans; Texas ranks #2 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Texas tracks across all five policy areas. Texas profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official Texas source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.