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Wyoming panel backs ban on sales of lab-grown "cultivated meat"
Summary
The Senate, sitting as the Committee of the Whole, gave a do-pass recommendation on House Bill 168, which defines “cultivated meat” and prohibits its sale for human consumption in Wyoming. Lawmakers debated public-health, economic and freedom arguments before passing the measure by voice vote.
The Wyoming Senate, sitting as the Committee of the Whole on Feb. 18, advanced House Bill 168, a measure that defines “cultivated meat” and bars its manufacture for sale, sale, offer for sale or distribution for human consumption in the state.
Sponsor and floor manager Senator Fred French urged the committee to support the bill; Senator Philip Driscoll, who explained the measure on the floor, said the bill does not stop production or sale of cultured products — it only prevents those products from being labeled or sold as “meat.” "You can call your deal whatever you like to call it. This bill does not say you can't sell it. What it says, you can't call it meat," Driscoll said.
The bill drew a wide-ranging debate. Opponents described HB168 as an anti-competitive, anti‑freedom measure that would fence out innovation and restrict consumer choice; Senator Chris Rothfuss said the bill “is trying to fence out innovation in favor of an existing market” and argued labeling would be a less restrictive alternative. Supporters, including Senator Randall Scott and others representing agricultural districts, cited public‑health and industry-protection rationales. Senator Scott argued that cultivated meat raised unique inspection and contamination risks that currently lack established oversight.
Committee discussion included technical, economic and philosophical points: safety protocols in laboratory culture, parallels to food‑freedom laws and the potential industry scale (Senator Anderson noted global investment in the sector). Several senators urged that, if adopted, future bills could permit cultured products under a different name should safety and inspection standards emerge.
After debate the Committee of the Whole adopted a do‑pass recommendation on HB168. The committee vote was a voice vote; the transcript records no roll‑call tally on the floor at that point. The measure as advanced would make it illegal to sell cultivated meat for human consumption in Wyoming; it does not prohibit sale of plant‑based meat alternatives or other noncultured products.
The bill now moves forward in the Senate process for further consideration.
