LB 940 Legislature · 109th Legislature (2025-2026)

Prohibit certain color additives in school meals

LB 940 prohibits Nebraska public elementary and secondary schools from serving school meals containing six specific artificial color additives (Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, and Yellow No. 6) starting August 1, 2026. The bill applies only to meals served under federal school lunch programs (as defined by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and Child Nutrition Act of 1966) and does not cover other food items offered to students. It bases the banned additives on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's list as of January 1, 2026, using federal definitions for "color additive" and "school meal." The policy change directly affects school meal providers and students receiving these meals in Nebraska.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Jan 2026
Legislature Passage
Apr 2026
Legislature Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 9, 2026 Signed Apr 17, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Final Reading · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill's effective date was delayed from August 1, 2026, to August 1, 2027. This one-year postponement allows schools more time to prepare for the new restrictions on certain food additives in student meals.
Scope change
The bill's applicability remains the same, covering public elementary and secondary schools, but the timeline for enforcement has been extended.
TIMELINE

The effective date for prohibiting certain additives in school meals was changed from August 1, 2026, to August 1, 2027.

Floor votes · Legislature Feb 10, 2026

How they voted

360
Passed · 13 other
Total votes 49
Feb 10, 2026
N Nonpartisan49
36 Yea 13
73% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
25
Key actions
5
Committee
2
Apr 17, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor on April 14, 2026
executive
Apr 9, 2026
Legislature · Passed
President/Speaker signed
legislature
Apr 9, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Passed on Final Reading 47-0-2
legislature
Feb 10, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Murman AM1817 adopted
legislature
Jan 29, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Placed on General File
legislature
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Education Committee
legislature
Jan 9, 2026
Introduced
Date of introduction
legislature
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Dave Murman
Dave Murman
NNonpartisan
NE
38