HB 3738
Shofner Bill Tests School Lunches For PFAS And Sets No Limits
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Both charges, and why
Study, task force, commission, report
THE TEXT
…“shall conduct an annual study to determine levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in food served to students”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The only duty is to test and report. Nothing happens to the food if PFAS turns up. The caption honestly says this is a study.
Study, task force, commission, reportDelayed start
THE TEXT
…“the Department of Agriculture is not required to submit the initial report required by that section until December 31, 2026”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The first results are not due until after the November 3, 2026 general election.
Delayed startInitial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to an annual study on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in school lunches.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Test, report, repeat. First report due December 31, 2026, after the election.
The bill orders the Texas Department of Agriculture, with help from the Texas Education Agency, to test school lunch food every year for PFAS, a class of manufactured fluorinated chemicals. It covers food sent to schools under the federal school lunch program and other foods schools commonly buy with program money. Each year the department must report the test results to state leaders and every legislator, but the bill sets no limits, bans or required fixes for any PFAS it finds.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 4, 2025 and referred to the House Public Education committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB3738 · 2025-03-04
SOLD BY
+ 10 coauthors
ITEM
relating to an annual study on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in school lunches.
WHAT IT DOES
Test, report, repeat. First report due December 31, 2026, after the election.
The bill orders the Texas Department of Agriculture, with help from the Texas Education Agency, to test school lunch food every year for PFAS, a class of manufactured fluorinated chemicals. It covers food sent to schools under the federal school lunch program and other foods schools commonly buy with program money. Each year the department must report the test results to state leaders and every legislator, but the bill sets no limits, bans or required fixes for any PFAS it finds.
CHARGES
[x] STUDY, TASK FORCE, COMMISSION, REPORTanalysis confidence 60%
THE TEXT
…“shall conduct an annual study to determine levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in food served to students”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The only duty is to test and report. Nothing happens to the food if PFAS turns up. The caption honestly says this is a study.
[x] DELAYED STARTanalysis confidence 50%
THE TEXT
…“the Department of Agriculture is not required to submit the initial report required by that section until December 31, 2026”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The first results are not due until after the November 3, 2026 general election.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Public Education
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$20,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101007132, 101027774, 101071421.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101007132, 101027774, 101071421.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Mar 4, 2025
03/26/2025 H Referred to Public Education: Mar 26 2025 11:31AM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Public Education · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Agriculture
Education--School Districts
Health--General
Minors--Health & Safety
Safety
FOOD
AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION AGENCY, TEXAS
Text
The text as introduced · 321 words
89R14823 MP-D By: Shofner H.B. No. 3738 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to an annual study on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in school lunches. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding Section 12.052 to read as follows: Sec. 12.052. STUDY ON PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES IN SCHOOL LUNCHES. (a) In this section, "perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance" means any member of the class of manufactured fluorinated chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom. (b) The department, with assistance from the Texas Education Agency, shall conduct an annual study to determine levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in food served to students under the school lunch program administered by the department under 42 U.S.C. Section 1751 et seq. The study must analyze representative samples of: (1) each food distributed to schools under the program; and (2) other foods commonly purchased by schools using program subsidies. (c) Not later than December 31 of each year, the department shall prepare a report with the results of the study conducted under Subsection (b) and submit the report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the legislature. (d) The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section, including to determine which perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances to test for in the food served to students. SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 12.052, Agriculture Code, as added by this Act, the Department of Agriculture is not required to submit the initial report required by that section until December 31, 2026. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.