On June 23, 2025, Governor Greg Abbott of Texas signed Senate Bill 261 into law, effectively prohibiting the sale, manufacture, and distribution of cell-cultured protein products for human consumption within the state.
The bill, which will take effect on September 1, 2025, also makes it a Class A misdemeanor offense to offer or sell such products, with penalties escalating to a state jail felony for repeat offenders. The law defines “cell-cultured protein” as any food product made by harvesting animal cells and replicating them in a laboratory growth medium to create consumable tissue.
This action makes Texas the seventh US state to enact a ban on lab-grown meat, following similar moves in Indiana, Nebraska, Montana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. The legislation’s primary intent is to safeguard traditional animal agriculture by restricting the sale of lab-grown meat, which some see as a threat to conventional livestock farming.
Sunset clause for reconsideration
The new law also includes a sunset clause, meaning the ban will automatically expire on September 1, 2027, unless the Texas Legislature votes to extend or renew the prohibition. This time limitation allows for potential future reconsideration of the policy.
Governor Abbott, in a statement, described the law as a measure to “protect the safety of Texans and safeguard the individual freedoms” upon which the state was founded. He further emphasized the law’s alignment with Texas’s broader commitment to preserving its agricultural heritage.
The bill passed with bipartisan support and was backed by industry groups such as the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, which represents the state’s beef producers. Association President Carl Ray Polk Jr. stated that the law would “protect consumers, the beef industry, and animal agriculture” by ensuring that only traditionally raised beef and other animal proteins are sold in Texas.
Stifling innovation & consumer choice
While proponents of the bill argue that it protects consumer safety and the interests of traditional agriculture, others raise concerns about the broader implications. Texas Policy Research argues that the ban stifles innovation in the growing field of cellular agriculture, potentially costing the state economic opportunities and market leadership in agri-tech. By blocking business development in lab-grown meat, the law effectively favors established livestock industries, creating a government-enforced monopoly.
Additionally, the bill limits consumer choice, as it prevents Texans from deciding for themselves whether to consume cell-cultured protein, thus infringing on individual liberty. Critics contend that a more consumer-friendly approach, such as clear labeling and safety standards, would better address concerns while preserving personal freedom and market competition.
Furthermore, the law could undermine private property rights by criminalizing the possession of legally acquired lab-grown meat from other states, raising questions about government overreach and the erosion of consumer autonomy.
Unanswered questions on economic impact
Despite these concerns, the bill is not expected to have a significant fiscal impact on either state or local governments, according to a legislative budget analysis. The Texas Department of State Health Services is expected to handle enforcement with minimal additional cost. However, the long-term effects on the biotechnology sector and potential job creation in the lab-grown meat industry remain unaddressed in the fiscal note.
The ban on cell-cultured protein products has sparked ongoing debates about the future of food production in the US. As states take differing approaches to regulate or ban lab-grown meat, questions remain about the potential for a fragmented regulatory environment in the absence of federal guidelines.
