Relating to: the sale, service, and labeling of food products containing lab-grown animal cells and providing a penalty. (FE)
AB 554 requires clear labeling for food products containing lab-grown meat, directly affecting food manufacturers, restaurants, and state institutions. It mandates that "lab-grown meat" appear in prominent, contrasting text on labels (at least as large as other text), with full ingredient lists and separate labeling for multi-component products. The bill prohibits serving lab-grown meat as a meat substitute in public eateries without customer order or in state institutions (like prisons or hospitals) without specific health authorization. Violations carry fines of $100-$500 for first offenses and up to $1,000 for repeat violations. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.
Bill status
vetoed
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Oct 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Assembly Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
Vetoed
Mar 2026
Introduced Oct 15, 2025
Vetoed Mar 27, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Bill Text
→
Text as Enrolled
·
4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was converted from a draft proposal into its final enrolled version, removing website navigation and committee markup while adding the official legal text. The most significant policy change is the expansion of the definition of 'animal' to include fish, broadening the scope of products subject to labeling requirements. Additionally, the final text adds the crucial condition that sellers must 'know' the product contains lab-grown meat to be held liable, and it clarifies that sales in public eating places are only prohibited if the meat is used as a meat substitute.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include fish in the definition of 'animal,' and liability for sellers is now contingent on their knowledge that the product contains lab-grown meat.
DEFINITION
The definition of 'animal' was updated to include 'fish,' expanding the range of lab-grown products covered by the law.
REQUIREMENT
New language was inserted requiring that sellers 'know' a product contains lab-grown meat before they can be held liable for violations.
The prohibition on selling lab-grown meat in public eating places was clarified to apply only when the product is sold as a 'substitute for meat'.
The prohibition on serving lab-grown meat in state institutions was clarified to apply only when the product is served as a 'substitute for meat'.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
40
Key actions
10
Committee
6
Amendments
5
Mar 27, 2026
Vetoed
Report vetoed by the Governor on 3-27-2026
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate Amendment 1 concurred in
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Received from Senate amended and concurred in as amended (Senate amendment 1 adopted)
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read a third time and concurred in as amended
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Amendment 1 adopted
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Committee
Withdrawn from committee on Agriculture and Revenue and rereferred to committee on Senate Organization pursuant to Senate Rule 46(2)(c)
upper
Jan 30, 2026
Introduced
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Quinn
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read a third time and passed
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Assembly Amendment 1 adopted
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on calendar 1-20-2026 by Committee on Rules
lower
Dec 23, 2025
Committee
Referred to committee on Rules
lower
Dec 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Consumer Protection, Ayes 4, Noes 1
lower
Dec 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0
lower
Dec 17, 2025
Introduced
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Moses
lower
Oct 15, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Representatives Moses, Sortwell, Dittrich, Gundrum, Goodwin, Wichgers, Goeben, Kreibich, Behnke, Melotik, Murphy and Allen;
cosponsored by Senators Quinn, Nass, Marklein and Spreitzer
lower
12 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Barbara Dittrich
RRepublican
P
Chuck Wichgers
RRepublican
P
Clint Moses
RRepublican
P
Dave Murphy
RRepublican
P
Elijah Behnke
RRepublican
P
Joy Goeben
RRepublican
P
Paul Melotik
RRepublican
P
Rick Gundrum
RRepublican
P
Rob Kreibich
RRepublican
P
Russell Goodwin
DDemocratic
P
Scott Allen
RRepublican
P
Shae Sortwell
RRepublican
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