WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

S. 222 · 119th Congress · Public Law 119-69

Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025

Became lawAgriculture and Food
IntroducedJan 23, 2025
Passed SenateNov 20, 2025
Passed HouseDec 15, 2025
To PresidentJan 6, 2026
Became lawJan 14, 2026

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

S. 222 changed 4 sections of existing law. Read from the bill text in its final form, as sent to the President.

42 U.S.C. 1758

42 U.S.C. 1762a Commodity distribution program

42 U.S.C. 1769b Department of Defense overseas dependents' schools

  • (c) Nutritional standards for meals; noncompliance with standards changed · Sec. 2(b) · see the words

42 U.S.C. 1776 State administrative expenses

  • (g) Professional standards for school food service added to · Sec. 3(a), Sec. 3(b) · see the words
What the words changed: every change, in place (9)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what was struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

  1. 42 U.S.C. 1758(a)(2)(A)changedby S. 222 Sec. 2(a)

    (i) shall offer students a variety of fluid milk;(ii) may offer students options which may include flavored and unflavored organic or nonorganic whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free fluid milk and lactose-free fluid milk, and nondairy beverages that are nutritionally equivalent to fluid milk and meet the nutritional standards established by the Secretary (which shall, among other requirements to be determined by the Secretary, include fortification of calcium, protein, vitamin A, and vitamin D to levels found in cow’s milk); and

    The bill says: by striking clauses (i) and (ii) and inserting the following:

  2. 42 U.S.C. 1758(a)(2)(A)(iii)changedby S. 222 Sec. 2(a)

    (iii) shall provide a substitute for fluid milk for students whose disability restricts their diet, on receipt of a written statement from a licensed physicianphysician, parent, or legal guardian that identifies the disability that restricts the student's diet and that specifies the substitute for fluid milk.

    The bill says: in clause (iii), by striking "physician" and inserting "physician, parent, or legal guardian";

  3. 42 U.S.C. 1758(a)(2)(C)changedby S. 222 Sec. 2(a)

    (C) Restrictions on sale of milk prohibited.—A school that participates in the school lunch program under this chapter shall not directly or indirectly restrict the sale or marketing of fluid milk productsproducts described in subparagraph (A)(ii) by the school (or by a person approved by the school) at any time or any place— (i) on the school premises; or (ii) at any school-sponsored event.

    The bill says: in subparagraph (C), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking "fluid milk products" and inserting "products described in subparagraph (A)(ii)"; and

  4. 42 U.S.C. 1758(a)(2)added (D)by S. 222 Sec. 2(a)

    (D) Saturated fat.— Milk fat included in any fluid milk provided under subparagraph (A) shall not be considered saturated fat for purposes of measuring compliance with the allowable average saturated fat content of a meal under section 210.10 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).(E) Application.— Subparagraph (B)(ii) is not applicable to a school that offers nondairy beverages under subparagraph (A)(ii).

    The bill says: by adding at the end the following:

  5. 42 U.S.C. 1762a(f)changedby S. 222 Sec. 2(b)

    …shall consist of a combination of foods which meet the minimum nutritional requirements prescribed by the Secretary under section 1758(a) of this title, and shall represent the four basic food groups, including a serving of fluid milk or a nondairy beverage that meets the nutritional standards described in section 9(a)(2)(B).

    The bill says: Section 14(f) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1762a(f)) is amended in the third sentence by inserting "or a nondairy beverage that meets the nutritional standards described in section 9(a)(2)(B)" after "milk".

  6. 42 U.S.C. 1769b(c)changedby S. 222 Sec. 2(b)

    (c) Nutritional standards for meals; noncompliance with standards. The Secretary of Defense shall be required to offer meals meeting nutritional standards prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture; however, the Secretary of Defense may authorize deviations from Department of Agriculture prescribed meal patterns and fluid milk requirementspatterns, fluid milk requirements, and nutritional standards for nondairy beverages when local conditions preclude strict compliance or when such compliance is impracticable.

    The bill says: Section 20(c) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769b(c)) is amended by striking "patterns and fluid milk requirements" and inserting "patterns, fluid milk requirements, and nutritional standards for nondairy beverages".

  7. 42 U.S.C. 1776(g)(2)(B)(iii)renumberedby S. 222 Sec. 3(a)

    The bill says: by redesignating subclauses (II) and (III) as subclauses (III) and (IV), respectively; and

  8. 42 U.S.C. 1776(g)(2)(B)(iii)added (II)by S. 222 Sec. 3(a)

    (II) food allergies, including information on the best practices to prevent, recognize, and respond to food-related allergic reactions;

    The bill says: by inserting after subclause (I) the following:

  9. 42 U.S.C. 1776(g)(2)(B)(ii)(II)changedby S. 222 Sec. 3(b)

    The bill says: Section 7(g)(2)(B)(ii)(II) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1776(g)(2)(B)(ii)(II)) is amended by striking "clause (i)" and inserting "clauses (i) and (iii)".

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, latest edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

What it does

Sourced

Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025

This act revises requirements for milk provided by the National School Lunch Program of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to allow schools to offer students whole and reduced-fat milk. The act also requires that local school food service personnel receive annual training and certification on food allergies.

The act permits schools to offer students whole, reduced-fat (2%), low-fat (1%), and fat-free flavored and unflavored milk. The milk that is offered may be organic or nonorganic. Currently, USDA regulations require milk to be fat-free or low-fat and allow milk to be flavored or unflavored. The act also removes the requirement that schools participating in the program must provide milk that is consistent with the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The act also expands the nondairy beverages that are included in the program by allowing schools to offer all students nondairy beverages that are nutritionally equivalent to fluid milk and that meet nutritional standards established by USDA.

Further, schools currently must provide a substitute for fluid milk, on receipt of a written statement from a licensed physician, for students whose disability restricts their diet. Under the act, a parent or legal guardian may also provide the written statement.

In addition, the act excludes fluid milk from the saturated fat content calculation for school meals. Currently, schools participating in the program must provide meals that meet certain nutrition requirements; USDA regulations require that the average saturated fat content of the meals offered must be less than 10% of the total calories. Under the act, milk fat included in any fluid milk provided by the program must not be considered saturated fat for the purposes of measuring compliance with USDA regulations.

Finally, the program's mandatory training and certification for local school food service personnel must include a module on food allergies, including information on the best practices to prevent, recognize, and respond to food-related allergic reactions. Food service personnel must receive an annual certification to demonstrate competence in the food allergies training and other training modules that are provided.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Public Law, Jan 14, 2026).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

Sourced
  1. 2026-01-14Became Public Law No: 119-69.Library of Congress
  2. 2026-01-14Became Public Law No: 119-69.Library of Congress
  3. 2026-01-14Signed by President.Library of Congress
  4. 2026-01-14Signed by President.Library of Congress
  5. 2026-01-06Presented to President.House floor actions
  6. 2026-01-06Presented to President.Library of Congress
  7. 2025-12-15Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.House floor actions
  8. 2025-12-15On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.House floor actions
  9. 2025-12-15Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.Library of Congress
  10. 2025-12-15DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 222.House floor actions
  11. 2025-12-15Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5857-5861)House floor actions
  12. 2025-12-15Mr. Thompson (PA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.House floor actions
  13. 2025-11-20Held at the desk.House floor actions
  14. 2025-11-20Received in the House.House floor actions
  15. 2025-11-20Message on Senate action sent to the House.Senate
  16. 2025-11-20Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8259-8261; text: CR S8261)Senate
  17. 2025-11-20Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.Library of Congress
  18. 2025-07-10Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 111.Senate
  19. 2025-07-10Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Reported by Senator Boozman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.Senate
  20. 2025-07-10Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Reported by Senator Boozman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.Library of Congress
  21. 2025-06-03Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.Senate
  22. 2025-04-01Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-55.Senate
  23. 2025-01-23Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.Senate
  24. 2025-01-23Introduced in SenateLibrary of Congress

Show key steps only

After it became law

Sourced

Since it became law on Jan 14, 2026, the Federal Register, the government's daily record of rules and notices, has published 1 document that name it: 1 final rule.

Named in the body of the document

The quote shows how each one uses the law: as the reason for a change, as background, or in passing.

  1. Final ruleMay 8, 2026Food and Nutrition Service, Agriculture Department
    Expanding Fluid Milk Options in Child Nutrition Programs
    Additionally, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 (WMFHKA) (Pub. L. 119-69), enacted on January 14, 2026, amended the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) by expanding the fluid milk options that may be offered to meet the requirements for fluid milk provided in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) (42 U.S.C. 1758(a)(2)(A)).
    In effect since Jun 8, 2026 · Changes 7 CFR part 210, 7 CFR part 215, 7 CFR part 220, 7 CFR part 226

Found by searching the Federal Register for Public Law 119-69 and the law's names, then reading each document: every one listed contains them, and the quote is its own words. An agency can carry out a law without naming it, so this list can miss some. Checked Oct 27, 2026. Every new law's rules

Cosponsors

  • Susan M. Collins R-ME
  • Mike Crapo R-ID
  • Joni Ernst R-IA
  • John Fetterman D-PA
  • Deb Fischer R-NE
  • Kirsten E. Gillibrand D-NY
  • Chuck Grassley R-IA
  • Martin Heinrich D-NM
  • Cindy Hyde-Smith R-MS
  • James C. Justice R-WV
  • Angus S. King, Jr. I-ME
  • David McCormick R-PA
  • Jerry Moran R-KS
  • James E. Risch R-ID
  • Elissa Slotkin D-MI
  • Peter Welch D-VT