New Jersey A 1608: Requires certain school districts to include fitness and nutrition wellness program as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.

Bill Text

A1608 

ASSEMBLY, No. 1608 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman SEAN T. KEAN

District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires certain school districts to include fitness 
and nutrition wellness program as part of implementation of New Jersey Student 
Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

�� 

An Act concerning fitness and nutrition instruction for 
certain students and supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey 
Statutes.

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� The Legislature finds 
and declares that:

���� a.���� Childhood obesity has 
reached epidemic levels in the United States. According to the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, for children and adolescents between the ages 
of two and 19, the prevalence of obesity is 19.3 percent and it affects approximately 
14.4 million children and adolescents.

���� b.��� Childhood obesity is a 
complex issue that has biological, behavioral, social, economic, environmental, 
and cultural causes which over decades have led to an adverse environment for 
maintaining a healthy weight.

���� c.���� Childhood obesity may 
significantly undermine a person�s health and well-being throughout their 
lives, often leading to social stigma and physical or psychological conditions 
including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and steatohepatitis (fatty liver disease).

���� d.��� Recognizing that many 
factors play a role in childhood obesity, school districts should incorporate 
into their curriculum all-inclusive fitness and nutritional wellness programs 
that teach children, teens, and their families how to live healthier lifestyles.

���� 2.��� a.� A school district 
that includes grades kindergarten through six shall develop and incorporate a 
fitness and nutritional wellness program into the district�s curriculum as part 
of its implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive 
Health and Physical Education. The purpose of the educational program shall be 
to reduce childhood and adolescent obesity by promoting healthy lifestyle 
habits, including physical activity and good nutrition. 

���� b.��� The program required 
pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall, at a minimum, include:

���� (1)�� an overview of the 
different types of foods and food groups, including information on how to 
differentiate between healthy and unhealthy foods; 

���� (2)�� instruction concerning 
the impact that an adequate and well-balanced diet has on an individual�s 
overall physical and mental health; 

���� (3)�� instruction concerning 
the impact that exercise and maintaining an active lifestyle has on an 
individual�s overall physical and mental health; and

���� (4)�� workshops or other 
events informing students and their parents or guardians of the importance of a 
well-balanced diet and exercise on an individual�s overall physical and mental 
health.

���� 3.��� This act shall take 
effect immediately and shall first be applicable in the first full school year 
next following the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

���� This bill requires each school 
district that includes grades kindergarten through six to develop and 
incorporate a fitness and nutritional wellness program into the district�s curriculum 
as part of its implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in 
Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The purpose of the educational 
program is to reduce childhood and adolescent obesity by promoting healthy 
lifestyle habits, including physical activity and good nutrition.

���� Under the bill, the wellness 
program is required, at a minimum, to include:

� 
an overview of 
the different types of foods and food groups, including information on how to 
differentiate between healthy and unhealthy foods; 

� 
instruction 
concerning the impact that an adequate and well-balanced diet has on an 
individual�s overall physical and mental health;

� 
instruction 
concerning the impact that exercise and maintaining an active lifestyle has on 
an individual�s overall physical and mental health; and

� 
workshops or 
other events informing students and their parents or guardians of the 
importance of a well-balanced diet and exercise on an individual�s overall 
physical and mental health.