H.B. No. 1972 mandates that public medical schools in Texas include at least three hours of coursework in nutrition as part of their medical degree curriculum. The bill defines "medical school" to encompass both traditional medical schools and other institutions that award medical degrees. The required nutrition 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 compared to those from foreign countries. Importantly, the development and funding of this coursework must not be influenced by pharmaceutical or food and beverage companies.

Additionally, the bill specifies that the nutrition coursework requirement does not apply to students who entered their medical degree programs before the spring semester of 2026, with this exemption set to expire on January 1, 2032. The act will take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote from both houses of the Texas Legislature; otherwise, it will become effective on September 1, 2025.

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