DeSantis Signed New Florida Law: Selling Lab Grown Meat Is Now A Second Degree Misdemeanor

Photo for illustrative purposes only.Photo byTrnava University on Unsplash

In a divided vote on Senate Bill 1084, which would make a variety of regulatory changes including putting a ban on lab grown meat state-wide, Florida’s Senate and House ultimately decided to pass it, sending it on to Governor DeSantis for approval. DeSantis officially approved it on May 1, 2024, and the law came into effect on July 1, 2024.

In part, this widely inclusive bill defines “cultivated meat”, or lab grown meat, “as any meat or food product produced from cultured animal cells”. This law also makes it a second degree misdemeanor to knowingly sell or otherwise manufacture, distribute, hold, or offer cultivated meat. The exception is in cases of research purposes.

In addition to this regulation on cultivated meat, electric vehicle charging stations will now be regulated by the state. Local governments will be prohibited from implementing any related regulations.

Pest control operator’s certificates will also now have expiration dates, and certificate renewal requirements are being amended. Applicants seeking renewal are prohibited from affirming or swearing false statements and cheating on licensure examinations. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is being granted the authority to penalize violations.

Furthermore, this law makes new authorizations for tax collectors, increases the threshold value of written estimates on vehicle repair work, renames the Florida Agriculture Museum, and makes a student’s participation in Future Farmers of America or 4-H activities an excused school absence. Many other issues related to Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are also addressed.

Senate Bill 1084 was originally prepared by the Agriculture Committee and filed on December 27, 2024. The results of the Senate vote were 26-10, and the results of the House vote were 86-27.

For complete details on this new law, click here to read the full 81 pages of Senate Bill 1084. For the official summary of the bill, click here.
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Article by Ema Tibbetts