On Nov. 26, 2024, Representative Dr. Suleman Lalani (D-TX) filed House Bill 1474 (HB 1474), which would prohibit the sale of weight loss and muscle building dietary supplements to minors. The bill was submitted for the 2025 legislative session, which begins on Jan. 14.
“A person may not sell, offer to sell, or give away, as either a retail or wholesale promotion, an over-the-counter weight loss drug or dietary supplement to an individual younger than 18 years of age,” the bill states.
Texas is now the latest state to introduce a dietary supplement age restriction bill. Since late 2023, there have been similar bills filed in Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey. The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and the Natural Products Association (NPA) filed several lawsuits against New York’s bill.
If passed, the bill would go into effect on Sept. 1, 2025, with compliance beginning Dec. 1, 2025.
CRN and NPA responded to the Texas bill and NPA provided a form letter on its website encouraging Texans to oppose it.
“The members of the Texas state legislature have consistently recognized the positive effects of supplements and health products, and are actively pursuing ways to expand access,” NPA wrote. “Yet, in this upcoming legislative session, Rep. Suleman Lalani is set to introduce Texas House Bill 1474, which threatens to restrict access to essential dietary supplements. While many of us are working toward healthier lifestyles, this bill would limit our ability to make informed health choices and restrict access to the health products we use every day.”
CRN expressed “significant concerns” about HB 1474 as currently written. It shares lawmakers’ commitment to promoting consumer safety but believes the legislation is overly broad and could “inadvertently impact legitimate dietary supplements without addressing the foot cause of public health concerns.”
“There is no causal connection between dietary supplements and eating disorders, and we caution against policy measures that perpetuate this misconception. The dietary supplement industry is committed to the responsible manufacturing and marketing of products that support health and wellness. H.B. 1474’s provisions, including the requirement to restrict access to certain products by placing them behind the counter or in locked cases, raise serious questions about the practical and economic impacts on retailers and manufacturers, as well as the availability of legitimate products to consumers,” CRN said.
CRN added it is actively assessing the potential consequences of the legislation on its industry and the dietary supplement marketplace, stating, “We remain dedicated to collaborating with lawmakers when they convene in 2025 to address our concerns and work toward legislation that is both effective and equitable. We look forward to engaging with stakeholders in Austin to ensure that public health measures are guided by sound science and a balanced understanding of the issues at hand.”
For more information and to read the full bill, visit https://house.texas.gov.
