The bill, H.B. No. 1972, mandates that public medical schools in Texas include a minimum of three hours of coursework in nutrition as part of their medical degree curriculum. This new requirement is defined under Section 51.311 of the Education Code, which specifies that the coursework must cover essential topics such as normal caloric intake for healthy adults, dietary modifications for individuals with chronic conditions, the role of nutrition in disease prevention, and common food additives in U.S. products. Additionally, the bill stipulates that the development of this coursework must not be influenced by pharmaceutical or food and beverage companies.

Furthermore, the bill includes a provision that exempts students who entered their medical degree programs before the spring semester of 2026 from this new requirement, with this exemption set to expire on January 1, 2032. The bill is designed to enhance the nutritional education of future medical professionals, thereby improving patient care and public health outcomes. It is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses of the legislature or on September 1, 2025, if such a vote is not achieved.

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