Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed legislation to ban the manufacture and sale of lab-grown meat, becoming the fifth state to take such action. “So-called ‘lab-grown meat’ has no place in Montana,” Gianforte said. “By signing HB 401 into law, I am proud to defend our way of life and the hardworking Montana ranchers who produce the best beef in the world,” he added. So-called "lab-grown meat" has no place in Montana. By signing HB 401 into law, I am proud to defend our way of life and the hardworking Montana ranchers who produce the best beef in the world. pic.twitter.com/INc2WuAvNI — Governor Greg Gianforte (@GovGianforte) May 13, 2025 According to Food Safety News, the state is “aggressively” enforcing the ban. Enforcement plan is evidence that Montana is serious about banning lab—grown meat https://t.co/1hyDASNFSO — Kim Wells Cleveland (@Kimwells67) May 14, 2025 Per Food Safety News: It’s no surprise that Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed House Bill 401 after it flew through the state Legislature. The new law prohibits the manufacture or sale in the state after Oct. 1 of any cultivated meat product. It provides for prison sentences and fines for violators. Retailers selling lab-grown meat are subject to penalties, and restaurants could lose their licenses. “Misbranding” is also prohibited. State Rep. Braxton Mitchell, R-Columbia Falls, was the prime sponsor of the measure, which 70 of his colleagues co-sponsored. The 25-year-old Mitchell said that by adopting the ban, Montana would “stand with our cattle ranchers.” But it’s in the enforcement details that Montana is signaling just how serious it is. Sixteen full time employee positions are created and assigned to polling the ban. For a state that’s careful about spending, that’s a lot of new public employees. However, the new law, according to its fiscal note, has assignments in the Department of Public Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor and Industry, and the Weights and Measures unit. Ironically, enforcing the cell-cultured meat ban will not impact the Montana Department of Livestock. According to the fiscal note, there will be rule-making and technology implementation costs, personal service, and travel costs for inspectors to contact vendors and businesses and to transfer samples to the state laboratory. The fiscal note predicts that a “significant” financial impact will come with the establishment of a genetic testing laboratory, along with the personal service and operating costs to conduct testing. Montana and Indiana become 4th and 5th states to ban lab-grown meat, Nebraska moves to become 6th. https://t.co/sHRiqX1Fwf — Media Research Center (@theMRC) May 14, 2025 From State of Montana Newsroom: Starting October 1, any retail food establishment in Montana that manufactures, sells, or distributes cell-cultured edible product is subject to suspension of their license and could be found guilty of a misdemeanor and faced with fines and imprisonment if convicted. “As Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and someone whose family has been involved in Montana’s meat processing industry for over 80 years, I’m proud Governor Gianforte signed House Bill 401 into law,” Rep. Mitchell said. “Agriculture is our state’s number one industry, and this bill takes a clear stand to protect our ranchers and our food supply. We won’t let synthetic products with misleading labels undercut the hard work of Montana’s farm and ranch families.” The Montana Farm Bureau Federation praised the signing of the legislation, thanking the governor and legislature for defending and protecting the Montana way of life. “Montana ranchers grow some of the best meat in the world, we are thrilled consumers in the treasure state will continue to enjoy authentic meat. Thank you to the legislature and Governor Gianforte for supporting ranchers and consumers with this new law,” said Montana Farm Bureau Federation President Cyndi Johnson.