House Bill 139 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Danny CrawfordRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Food enrichment; corn masa folic acid requirements, corn masa flour added, exempt products revised

Summary

HB139 would require folic acid fortification for corn masa flour and corn masa products in Alabama, revise exemptions, and take effect October 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

The bill adds corn masa flour to the items that must be enriched with folic acid. It sets minimum fortification levels: at least 0.7 mg of folic acid per pound for corn masa flour and at least 0.4 mg per pound for corn masa products. It also clarifies exemptions for cottage food operations, grocery stores offering conforming products, and snack foods, and includes non-substantive, technical updates to the existing language. The changes would take effect on October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Manufacturers and sellers of corn masa flour and corn masa products must ensure fortification meets the new minimum levels.
• Cottage food production operators are exempt from the fortification requirements.
• Grocery stores offering conforming corn masa products are exempt from the fortification requirements.
• Snack foods made from corn masa products are exempt from the fortification requirements.
• Consumers may benefit from folic acid fortification in corn masa products distributed in Alabama.

Key Provisions

• Adds corn masa flour to the list of products that must be enriched with folic acid.
• Sets minimum fortification levels: not less than 0.7 mg of folic acid per pound for corn masa flour; not less than 0.4 mg per pound for corn masa products.
• Establishes exemptions: cottage food operations; grocery stores offering conforming products; snack foods as defined.
• Includes nonsubstantive/technical revisions to update current code language to modern style.
• Effective date: October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 18, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health