S 2977 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Requires children's meals and beverages served in certain settings to meet nutritional standards.*

S 2977 requires chain restaurants with 20 or more locations in New Jersey to meet specific nutritional standards for children's meals (sold as a single-price combo for kids). The bill mandates that these meals contain no more than 550 calories, 700mg sodium, 15g added sugar, and 0g trans fat, while including at least ½ cup of fresh fruits/vegetables and healthier beverage options like water or milk (not sugary drinks). Restaurants must clearly display the nutritional content of compliant meals on menus or signage. Violations can result in fines up to $1,000 per offense, enforced by the Department of Health.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Feb 9, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly expanded from applying only to chain restaurants to covering all restaurants, and beverage requirements were elevated from a sub-provision of meal standards to a standalone section with independent enforcement. This broadens the law's reach to single-location and small restaurant operators, not just large chains.

Scope change

Expanded from chain restaurants (establishments with 20 or more locations under the same name) to all restaurants, dramatically increasing the number of covered businesses.

SCOPE

The bill's applicability was expanded from 'chain restaurants' (20+ locations) to all 'restaurants,' meaning any food establishment serving on-premises. This is reflected throughout the bill in enforcement, penalties, and compliance provisions.

The Department of Health fact sheet and informational poster requirements now extend to all restaurants, not just chain restaurants.

REQUIREMENT

A new standalone section 4 was created requiring that the default beverage served with a children's meal be water, nonfat/low-fat dairy or non-dairy milk (8 oz or less), or 100 percent fruit/vegetable juice (6.75 oz or less). Previously this was embedded as subsection 3(a)(3) and only applied when a meal 'is served with a beverage.'

Beverage options were slightly broadened: flavored nonfat or low-fat milk is now explicitly permitted (previously only unflavored), and carbonated water is added as an option for juice dilution.

ENFORCEMENT

Penalty provisions now cover violations of both section 3 (meal standards) and the new section 4 (beverage defaults), and apply to 'chain restaurant or restaurant' rather than just chain restaurants. The violation language now references 'children's meal or beverage' instead of just 'children's meal.'

TECHNICAL

Senator Greenstein was added as a co-sponsor. The bill status changed from 'Introduced Pending Technical Review' to 'As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on February 9, 2026, with amendments.'

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 9, 2026

Committee

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee

upper

2 primary · 3 co-sponsors