As of Sept. 1, 2025, the sale of lab-grown meat has been banned in Texas for two years as part of Senate Bill 261. The law states that “a person may not manufacture, process, possess, distribute, offer for sale, or sell cell-cultured protein.”
Although its production and use were not widespread in the state, some believe its ban violates people’s constitutional rights, impacting what consumers can and can’t purchase.
“The Texas ban on cultivated meat is a classic example of special interest legislation,” Paul Sherman, senior attorney at The Institute of Justice, told The Dallas Morning News. “The law has nothing to do with public health and safety, and everything to do with protecting the powerful agriculture lobby from innovative out-of-state competition.”
Cattle ranchers were the most vocal supporters of the law, who saw the ban as a way to protect the industry.
“Ranchers across Texas work tirelessly to raise healthy cattle and produce high-quality beef,” said Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association president Carl Ray Polk Jr. in a statement. “Our association is grateful for those legislators who voted to support this legislation and understood the core of this bill, to protect our consumers, the beef industry, and animal agriculture.”
Sherman is the lead attorney in a lawsuit against a similar ban in Florida. He said that if a federal court rules in their favor, the same arguments will apply to Texas.
