Committee advances bill to require labeling of lab‑grown meat in restaurants after amending out plant‑based language

The Agriculture and Consumer Affairs committee voted to advance House Bill 163, which requires disclosure in foodservice settings when a menu item is cell‑cultured (lab‑grown) meat. Lawmakers adopted an amendment removing plant‑based meat alternatives from the bill and separately approved a technical change clarifying that "menus" include printed, electronic and placard displays such as QR‑code menus.

Representative Ridley, the bill’s sponsor, said the two‑page measure extends labeling current law (which covers grocery packaging) to foodservice establishments. "All we're doing is making sure cell cultured meat or lab grown meat is labeled in restaurants and plant‑based meat is labeled in restaurants," Ridley said when he introduced the measure. He later explained the bill specifically targets foodservice venues where items are ordered from a menu rather than already packaged retail goods.

Scott Beerman of the Georgia Restaurant Association told the committee his group "wholeheartedly support[s]" labeling of cell‑cultured products but urged removing plant‑based items from the requirement. Beerman said cell‑cultured products have had limited restaurant adoption in the U.S. because of cost and supply issues — "our best guess it's between zero and one" restaurants regularly selling such items — and that plant‑based labeling is largely handled by the industry today. "If you're going to sell it, I think it should be well known that you are selling a cell cultured ... burger," Beerman said.

Committee members asked about inspection and enforcement. Representative Ridley said approval and federally overseen inspection of lab‑grown meat has involved the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; he said he would follow up with additional details about inspection regimes for plant‑based alternatives. When Senator Hatchet asked what penalty would apply for failing to label an item, a committee member responded enforcement will fall under health inspection provisions and could be reflected in a restaurant's health score.

Senator Kemp offered an amendment to remove plant‑based meat alternatives from the bill, arguing less regulation is appropriate for small businesses. Opponents countered that removing plant‑based items would strip the bill of consumer disclosure for a commonly used product. The Kemp amendment passed on a voice/hand vote (recorded as five in favor, three opposed). A separate friendly amendment (LC570176) expanding the bill's definition of "menus" to include digital menus and placard displays also passed.

After the amendments, the committee voted to "do pass" the bill as amended and sent it to the rules committee. The sponsor said he would "clean up" drafting language to ensure the committee's intent is reflected in the engrossed bill.

The committee did not take a roll‑call vote listing individual member votes on the final passage in the transcript; amendment vote counts were given as hand/voice counts rather than a recorded roll call.