AUSTIN, Texas – Texas has officially become the seventh state in the United States to enact a ban on the sale of cultivated meat, often referred to as lab-grown or cell-cultured meat. Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 261 (SB 261) into law on June 25, 2025, marking a significant legislative move impacting the burgeoning alternative protein market within the state.
The new law, which amends the Texas Health and Safety Code, explicitly prohibits the offering for sale and sale of cell-cultured protein intended for human consumption. Violations of the statute will be subject to both civil and criminal penalties, underscoring the state’s resolve in enforcing the ban.
Defining ‘Cell-Cultured Protein’
SB 261 provides a specific definition for the banned substance. It defines cell-cultured protein as a food product derived from harvesting animal cells and artificially replicating them in a growth medium to produce tissue. This definition aims to clearly distinguish these products from traditionally farmed meat.
Effective Date and Sunset Clause
The prohibition is scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2025. Importantly, the law includes a sunset provision, meaning it is set to expire on September 7, 2027, unless legislative action is taken to extend it. This temporal limitation suggests the possibility of future review or modification of the ban.
Industry Reaction and Rationale
The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association lauded Governor Abbott’s signing of SB 261. The influential agricultural group issued a statement praising the ban, asserting that it prevents consumers from being a “science experiment.” They framed the legislation as a necessary step that “pushes back against groups opposing traditional animal agriculture,” highlighting the tension between conventional livestock farming and the development of alternative protein sources.
A Growing Trend Among States
Texas joins a growing list of states that have moved to restrict or ban the sale of cultivated meat. The other U.S. states that have enacted statewide bans include Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Montana, Indiana, and Nebraska. This trend reflects ongoing debates at the state level regarding food safety, labeling, agricultural policy, and the economic implications of cultivated meat production.
Each state’s legislation varies, particularly regarding effective dates and specific language. For instance, Indiana’s ban is currently in effect from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027, predating and having a slightly different duration than the Texas law.
Legal Challenges Emerge
The rise of state-level bans has not been without opposition, particularly from companies developing and producing cultivated meat. Legal challenges have emerged in response to some of these state prohibitions. Notably, UPSIDE Foods, a prominent company in the cultivated meat sector, has filed a lawsuit against Florida challenging its ban. These legal battles could potentially set precedents or influence the future of similar legislation in other states, including Texas.
The debate surrounding cultivated meat involves various stakeholders, including traditional agricultural producers, alternative protein companies, food safety advocates, and consumer groups. Proponents of cultivated meat argue it offers a sustainable and ethical alternative to conventional meat production, while opponents often raise questions about safety, labeling, and the potential impact on traditional farming industries.
The Texas ban, scheduled to commence in September, adds significant weight to the state-level resistance against cultivated meat sales in the U.S. Its implementation and potential legal challenges will likely be closely watched by both the agricultural sector and the burgeoning alternative protein industry nationwide.
