# Texas SB 261: Relating to a prohibition on the offering for sale and the sale of cell-cultured protein for human consumption; providing civil and criminal penalties.

Texas SB 261, Relating to a prohibition on the offering for sale and the sale of cell-cultured protein for human consumption; providing civil and criminal penalties., is a 89th Legislature Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Keith Bell, Jay Dean, Stan Gerdes and 3 others; status signed, last action 2025-06-20 (Effective on 9/1/25) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB261-89R
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Texas SB 261
- State: Texas
- Session: 89th Legislature Regular Session
- Title: Relating to a prohibition on the offering for sale and the sale of cell-cultured protein for human consumption; providing civil and criminal penalties.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2024-11-12
- Last action: 2025-06-20, Effective on 9/1/25
- Sponsors: Keith Bell, Jay Dean, Stan Gerdes, Stan Kitzman, Charles Perry (Republican), VanDeaver
- Cosponsors: 19
- Subjects: Agriculture, Business & Commerce--Trade Practices, Health--General, Safety, FOOD, HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 8 (219 yes, 57 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Clear labels identify lab-grown protein: benefit, low. Beginning September 1, 2025, cell-cultured protein labels must clearly identify the contents near the product name. Labels must use “cell-cultured,” “lab-grown,” or similar clear wording. The wording must be prominent and at least as large as surrounding type. The law also excludes cell-cultured an…
- Texas temporarily bans lab-grown protein sales: cost, low. Beginning September 1, 2025, Texas bans offering or selling cell-cultured protein for people to eat. This means food made by growing harvested animal cells in a growth medium to produce tissue. The ban expires September 1, 2027, and takes priority over conflicting state law. Violations follow exist…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Keith Bell, House
- Sponsor: Jay Dean, House
- Sponsor: Stan Gerdes, House
- Sponsor: Stan Kitzman, House
- Sponsor: Charles Perry (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: VanDeaver
- Cosponsor: Trent Ashby, House
- Cosponsor: Brad Buckley, House
- Cosponsor: Benjamin Bumgarner, House
- Cosponsor: Hancock
- Cosponsor: Cody Harris, House
- Cosponsor: Hillary Hickland, House
- Cosponsor: Lacey Hull, House
- Cosponsor: Lois Kolkhorst (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Stan Lambert, House
- Cosponsor: Terri Leo Wilson, House
- Cosponsor: John McQueeney, House
- Cosponsor: Mayes Middleton (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Angelia Orr, House
- Cosponsor: Katrina Pierson, House
- Cosponsor: Joanne Shofner, House
- Cosponsor: Shelby Slawson, House
- Cosponsor: Kevin Sparks (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Carl H. Tepper, House
- Cosponsor: Ellen Troxclair, House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-05-28 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 27 | 4 |   |
| 2025-05-25 | House | Record vote | pass | 99 | 36 |   |
| 2025-05-12 | Senate | Record vote | pass |   |   |   |
| 2025-05-12 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 26 | 4 |   |
| 2025-05-12 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 26 | 4 |   |
| 2025-05-12 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 26 | 4 |   |
|   | House | Committee vote: Public Health | pass | 7 | 4 |   |
|   | Senate | Committee vote: Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs | pass | 8 | 1 |   |

## Actions (60)

- 2025-06-20: Effective on 9/1/25 (House)
- 2025-06-20: Signed by the Governor (House)
- 2025-06-01: Sent to the Governor (House)
- 2025-06-01: Signed in the House (House)
- 2025-05-30: Signed in the Senate (Senate)
- 2025-05-29: Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported (House)
- 2025-05-28: Reported enrolled (Senate)
- 2025-05-28: Record vote (Senate)
- 2025-05-28: Senate concurs in House amendment(s) (Senate)
- 2025-05-28: Read (Senate)
- 2025-05-28: House amendment(s) laid before the Senate (Senate)
- 2025-05-26: House passage as amended reported (Senate)
- 2025-05-25: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House)
- 2025-05-25: Record vote (RV#3505) (House)
- 2025-05-25: Passed (House)
- 2025-05-25: Read 3rd time (House)
- 2025-05-24: Passed to 3rd reading (House)
- 2025-05-24: Point of order overruled (Rule 4, Section 32(c)(1)) (House)
- 2025-05-24: Read 2nd time (House)
- 2025-05-24: Placed on General State Calendar (House)
- 2025-05-22: Considered in Calendars (House)
- 2025-05-22: Committee report sent to Calendars (House)
- 2025-05-22: Committee report distributed (House)
- 2025-05-21: Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator (House)
- 2025-05-19: Reported favorably as substituted (House)
- 2025-05-19: Committee substitute considered in committee (House)
- 2025-05-19: Considered in public hearing (House)
- 2025-05-14: Referred to Public Health (House)
- 2025-05-14: Read first time (House)
- 2025-05-12: Received from the Senate (House)
- 2025-05-12: Reported engrossed (Senate)
- 2025-05-12: Record vote (Senate)
- 2025-05-12: Passed (Senate)
- 2025-05-12: Read 3rd time (Senate)
- 2025-05-12: Record vote (Senate)
- 2025-05-12: Three day rule suspended (Senate)
- 2025-05-12: Record vote (Senate)
- 2025-05-12: Passed to engrossment as amended (Senate)
- 2025-05-12: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate)
- 2025-05-12: Amended (Senate)
- 2025-05-12: Amendment(s) offered (FA1 Perry) (Senate)
- 2025-05-12: Read 2nd time (Senate)
- 2025-05-12: Record vote (Senate)
- 2025-05-12: Rules suspended-Regular order of business (Senate)
- 2025-05-08: Placed on intent calendar (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Co-author authorized (Senate)
- 2025-04-01: Committee report printed and distributed (Senate)
- 2025-04-01: Recommended for local & uncontested calendar (Senate)
- 2025-04-01: Reported favorably as substituted (Senate)
- 2025-03-31: Vote taken in committee (Senate)
- 2025-03-31: Testimony taken in committee (Senate)
- 2025-03-31: Considered in public hearing (Senate)
- 2025-03-31: Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Co-author authorized (Senate)
- 2025-02-27: Co-author authorized (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Co-author authorized (Senate)
- 2025-02-03: Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs (Senate)
- 2025-02-03: Read first time (Senate)
- 2024-11-12: Filed (Senate)
- 2024-11-12: Received by the Secretary of the Senate (Senate)

## Bill text

- Engrossed: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00261E.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00261E.PDF)
- Enrolled: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00261F.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00261F.PDF)
- House Committee Report: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00261H.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00261H.PDF)
- Introduced: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00261I.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00261I.PDF)
- Senate Committee Report: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00261S.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00261S.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB 2111: Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proceedings before a magistrate including the appointment of counsel for an indigent… (vetoed)
- SB 1838: Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certain attorneys ad litem in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by… (vetoed)
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- SB 2878: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court… (vetoed)
- SB 646: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans. (signed)
- HB 4325: Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry. (became law)

## Sources
- [Engrossed (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00261E.HTM)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00261E.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00261F.HTM)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00261F.PDF)
- [House Committee Report (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00261H.HTM)
- [House Committee Report (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00261H.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00261I.HTM)
- [Introduced (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00261I.PDF)
- [Senate Committee Report (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00261S.HTM)
- [Senate Committee Report (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00261S.PDF)

## Related
- [SB 2111: Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proce…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2111-89R)
- [SB 1838: Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certa…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB1838-89R)
- [SB 3: Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB3-89R)
- [SB 2878: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures re…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2878-89R)
- [SB 646: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB646-89R)
- [HB 4325: Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-HB4325-89R)
- [Texas bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/texas/bills)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB261-89R (as of 2026-10-19).