03/06/2026
Another win for Iowans!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 6, 2026
After Years of Advocacy, Representative Shipley Helps Deliver Bill to Improve Iowans' Health and Well-Being Through Iowa House
(DES MOINES) -- After years of pushing for similar reforms, on Tuesday, March 3rd, Representative Jeff Shipley (R-Birmingham) voted in favor of House File 2676 to improve Iowans' health and well-being through the Iowa House. HF 2676 includes a number of provisions aimed at making our state healthier.
"I'm thankful for my colleagues in the Iowa House for approving this legislation," Shipley said. "After many years of pushing for these reforms, it's very satisfying to know that the State of Iowa is taking action that will improve the health of our children for generations to come.
The legislation comes as Iowa faces a mounting health crisis. According to the latest America’s Health Rankings report:
🔹Iowa ranks 11th highest for adult obesity.
🔹70.7% of Iowans are obese or overweight.
🔹We have the 6th highest rate of excessive drinking.
🔹We rank 43rd out of 50 states for exercise.
🔹We sit in the bottom half for fruit and vegetable consumption, at 31st.
🔹Reports of frequent mental distress have risen by 71%.
🔹Suicide rates have increased by 26% over the last decade.
🔹Iowa has the 2nd highest cancer rate in the country.
To combat these rankings, HF 2676 implements several key reforms, including:
✅ Creates a new requirement for nutrition education for certain health care professionals through continuing education and during medical school, so doctors are just as equipped to prescribe patients with healthy lifestyle choices as they are to prescribe pharmaceuticals.
✅ Ensures the SNAP and summer EBT Programs dollars can only be spent on healthy foods, not sugary pop and candy.
✅ Allows pharmacists to distribute ivermectin for human consumption over-the-counter if they choose, giving Iowans safer access to this treatment if they desire it.
HF 2676 also take specific aim at improving the health of our children. For many years, Rep. Shipley has been a persistent advocate to improve school nutrition by removing artificial dyes and other unnecessary, harmful ingredients.
On the Education Committee, Rep. Shipley was one of the first to raise awareness of the dangers of excessive screen time in children and the harm digital devices are causing in student learning.
The following provisions of HF 2676 will help improve the physical and mental health of Iowa children:
✅ Sets common-sense limits on screentime during school by limiting digital instruction in grades K-5 to 60 minutes per school day.
✅ Prohibits schools from serving food and beverages with harmful dyes and chemicals.
✅ Boosts weekly physical education to 120 minutes for all grade levels.
✅ Ensures student participation in at least one extra curricular activity, with waiver options for jobs and activities not sanctioned by the school.
✅ Requires education standards to include instruction on nutrition to emphasize the importance of animal-based protein, dairy, vegetables and fruit.
✅ Directs the Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture to work together to adopt updated school nutrition guidelines that align with the state’s dietary recommendations and consider Iowa’s agricultural resources.
Austin Harris (R-Moulton) led the legislation through the Iowa House.
"This legislation guarantees that those on food assistance have access to healthy, nutritious options to improve their well-being," Harris said. "It cracks down on harmful chemicals poisoning our people and ensures our children get the exercise they need. This legislation is about lifting Iowans up and not settling for the soft bigotry of low expectations."
HF 2676 passed the House with a vote of 65-30. It now heads to the Senate for their consideration.
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