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Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Rep. Callahan authors Wisconsin Assembly bill banning certain food additives in school meals

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Calvin Callahan, Wisconsin State Representative of 35th District | Facebook

Calvin Callahan, Wisconsin State Representative of 35th District | Facebook

The new bill authored by State Rep. Calvin T. Callahan seeks to prohibit certain additives in meals provided through federal school programs, aiming to improve food quality for students, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "prohibiting school boards and independent charter schools from providing food containing certain ingredients in free or reduced-price meals".

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill prohibits school boards and independent charter schools from providing food that contains brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, azodicarbonamide, or red dye 3 to pupils as part of free or reduced-price meals offered through the National School Lunch Program or the federal School Breakfast Program. However, the bill allows private entities to serve food containing these ingredients on school premises or at school-sponsored events. The amendments will be effective starting July 1, 2027.

The bill was co-authored by Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Representative Scott Allen (Republican-82nd District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Representative Daniel Knodl (Republican-24th District), Representative Paul Melotik (Republican-22nd District).

Calvin T. Callahan has co-authored or authored another 38 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.

Callahan, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2021 to represent the state's 35th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Mary Felzkowski.

In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.

Bills Introduced by Calvin T. Callahan in Wisconsin Assembly During 2025 Regular Session

Bill NumberDate IntroducedShort Description
AB22604/23/2025Prohibiting school boards and independent charter schools from providing food containing certain ingredients in free or reduced-price meals
AB21804/23/2025Limitations on ownership of real property in this state by foreign persons. (FE)
AB19204/15/2025Fatality review teams and granting rule-making authority. (FE)
AB15404/02/2025Use of certified seed potatoes in planting potatoes and providing a penalty. (FE)
AB10703/11/2025Conversion of cooperative associations organized to establish and operate nonprofit plans or programs for health care into service insurance corporations
AB4502/17/2025Ratification of the Dietitian Licensure Compact. (FE)

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