Legislative Update (4/1)
Late last night, the Texas Senate passed Senator Mayes Middleton’s landmark SNAP reform bill (SB 379), which would prohibit the use of SNAP benefits on sodas, candy, and certain ultra-processed products with zero nutritional value.
Health isn’t just about what we eat—it’s about what we don’t eat. This bill aligns SNAP purchases with basic nutrition standards and helps protect our most vulnerable Texans from being trapped in a cycle of poor health and rising healthcare costs. It’s a major win for prevention, public health, and fiscal responsibility. Thank you, Senator Mayes Middleton, for your leadership on this issue. You can learn more here.
The momentum in Texas mirrors a growing national movement. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins have signaled strong support for states pursuing healthier food policies in SNAP. In a recent visit to West Virginia—now the first state to seek a federal waiver to remove soda from SNAP—Kennedy declared, "I urge every Governor to follow West Virginia’s lead and submit a waiver to the USDA to remove soda from SNAP. If there’s one thing we can agree on, it should be eliminating taxpayer-funded soda subsidies for lower income kids. I look forward to inviting every Governor who submits a waiver to come celebrate with me at the White House this fall."
Meanwhile, another major story is unfolding at the Capitol. A shocking legislative hearing last week revealed that Medicaid contractor Superior HealthPlan used your tax dollars to hire private investigators — not to root out fraud or improve care — but to dig through divorce records of lawmakers, follow sick Texans, and track down journalists. Yes, really.
This is everything wrong with healthcare today: massive corporations using public money to protect profits while sick people struggle to get the care they need. Learn more by reading our recent op-ed.
MAHA IN THE NEWS:
Mexico Passes National Junk Food Ban in Schools: Mexico just made a bold move for children’s health, passing a national ban on junk food in schools. FTA: “Mexico’s children have the highest consumption of junk food in Latin America and many get 40% of their total caloric intake from it.” This reform aims to eliminate ultra-processed snacks and sugary drinks from schools—replacing them with healthier habits and options. It’s one of the most ambitious national efforts in the world to curb childhood chronic disease. (Read more)
Big Soda’s Big Lobbying Problem: A powerful new op-ed exposes how the soda industry is spending big to block reforms that would stop taxpayer-funded soda subsidies in SNAP. Beyond hiring lobbyists, Big Soda is now paying influencers to shape the narrative online—an aggressive PR campaign aimed at preserving profits, not protecting public health. As support grows for commonsense nutrition reform, the beverage industry is showing just how far it will go to keep sugary drinks in government programs. (Read more)
The Mouth-Brain Connection: How Dental Health Shapes Your Body: In a fascinating new episode of the Huberman Lab, Dr. Staci Whitman dives deep into how your teeth and oral microbiome affect brain health, inflammation, and long-term disease risk. This conversation redefines how we think about dental care—not just as cosmetic, but foundational to whole-body wellness. (Listen here)
Is It Time to Rethink Water Fluoridation? This thought-provoking article from Wiseman Family Practice takes a deep dive into the controversial topic of public water fluoridation. It explores new research and policy shifts—including lawsuits and international bans—that are challenging long-standing assumptions about fluoride's role in dental health. With more attention on environmental toxins and preventative wellness, it’s a timely read for anyone rethinking what really belongs in our water supply. (Read more)
Superior HealthPlan CEO Fired Following PI Scandal: Mark Sanders, CEO of Superior HealthPlan, was fired last week after revelations during a Texas House hearing exposed the company’s use of private investigators to gather information on lawmakers and others. The Medicaid contractor is now under scrutiny from state officials and the Attorney General’s office. Superior’s parent company, Centene, has launched an internal investigation into the matter. Lawmakers expressed deep concern over taxpayer dollars being used to spy on both legislators and patients. (Read here)
For Texas,
Travis McCormick
Founder, Make Texans Healthy Again