VirginiaSB1862026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Misbranded food; manufactured-protein food products, civil penalty.

Sponsored By: Angelia Williams Graves (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Misbranded food; manufactured-protein food products; civil penalty. Provides that a food is misbranded if it purports to be or is represented as a meat food product or poultry product and such food product (i) bears or contains a manufactured-protein food product, as defined in the bill; (ii) is offered for sale; and (iii) has a label that is part of or placed on the food product package or other container storing such product that identifies the food as a meat food product or poultry product, unless such label bears a conspicuous and prominent qualifying term and is in close proximity to an identifying meat term, as such terms are defined in the bill. The bill exempts a meat food product that the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services determines contains a trace amount of a manufactured-protein food product, prohibits the sale or offering for sale of a food product that is misbranded pursuant to the provisions of the bill, and makes doing so a violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill provides that a person who violates the provisions of the bill is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $500 and allows the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services to adopt increased civil penalties not to exceed $500 for first, second, and subsequent violations of the bill. This bill is identical to HB 322.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Stronger consumer rights on meat labels

Breaking the manufactured‑protein misbranding rule is an unlawful act under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. You can use the Act’s remedies to sue or seek other protections against mislabeled products.

Sellers must label non-meat proteins

If you offer or sell a product in Virginia as meat or poultry, and it contains plant-, insect-, fungus-, lab-grown, or other manufactured protein, the label must clearly say so next to the meat term. Examples include “plant-based,” “vegan,” “insect-based,” or “cell-cultured.” The Department can decide a product with only a trace amount is not misbranded. Selling a misbranded product is banned. Each misbranded product can be fined up to $500, with a graduated schedule for repeat violations capped at $500 per product; the Commissioner collects fines for the Department.

No criminal charges for label violations

Violating the manufactured‑protein misbranding rule is not a crime. Other food law violations can still face criminal charges, including misdemeanors or, in some cases, felonies.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Angelia Williams Graves

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 210 • No: 3

House vote 3/2/2026

Passed House

Yes: 97 • No: 2

House vote 2/25/2026

Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

Yes: 21 • No: 1

Senate vote 1/26/2026

Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/23/2026

Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/22/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/22/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/20/2026

Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0108)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 108 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/6/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/10/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026Senate
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB186)

    3/5/2026Senate
  6. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB186ER)

    3/5/2026Senate
  7. Enrolled

    3/5/2026Senate
  8. Signed by President

    3/5/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/5/2026House
  10. Passed House (97-Y 2-N 0-A)

    3/2/2026House
  11. Read third time

    3/2/2026House
  12. Read second time

    2/27/2026House
  13. Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (21-Y 1-N)

    2/25/2026House
  14. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    2/3/2026House
  15. Read first time

    2/3/2026House
  16. Placed on Calendar

    2/3/2026House
  17. Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (38-Y 0-N 0-A)

    1/26/2026Senate
  18. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB186)

    1/26/2026Senate
  19. Passed Senate

    1/26/2026Senate
  20. Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    1/23/2026Senate
  21. Read second time

    1/23/2026Senate
  22. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    1/22/2026Senate
  23. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    1/22/2026Senate
  24. Read first time

    1/22/2026Senate
  25. Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (15-Y 0-N)

    1/20/2026Senate

Bill Text

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