Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, a lifelong hog farmer and staunch advocate for conventional agriculture, signed LB246 into law this week, officially banning the production, sale, promotion, and distribution of cultivated (lab-grown) meat within the state.
The new law makes Nebraska the sixth state in the U.S. to enact such a ban, marking a significant step in the national debate over alternative proteins and the future of food.
“We need to be willing to protect and preserve our state’s vital ag industry as well as our consumers,” said Gov. Pillen. “These products are grown from harvested cells in bioreactor machines. The health consequences are unknown and so are the long-term effects to consumers.”
The legislation, LB246, was introduced by Sen. Barry DeKay on behalf of Gov. Pillen. After extensive debate, it passed Nebraska’s unicameral legislature by a vote of 38-11. An alternative proposal (Amendment 882), which would have changed the bill into a labeling regulation, was rejected 24-12 during the second round of deliberations in April.
This move follows an earlier Executive Order signed by Gov. Pillen in August 2024, which prohibited state agencies from purchasing lab-grown meat and mandated that state contractors support conventional meat producers without preference for cultivated alternatives.
Nebraska’s decision holds particular weight as the second-largest cattle-producing state in the U.S., trailing only Texas. Livestock production is a cornerstone of Nebraska’s economy, generating $31.6 billion annually, according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.
The ban aligns with growing efforts in several agricultural states to protect traditional livestock industries from the emerging competition of lab-grown meat technologies.
As cultivated meat remains under federal review and consumer awareness increases, the legal and regulatory landscape continues to evolve—putting states like Nebraska at the forefront of this agricultural crossroads.
