SB23 Alabama 2024 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jack W. WilliamsSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2024
Title: Food Products, manufacture and distribution of meat from cultured animal cells prohibited
Summary: SB23 bans the manufacture, sale, and distribution of meat produced from cultured animal cells in Alabama.
What This Bill Does
It would make it unlawful to manufacture, sell, hold or offer for sale, or distribute cultivated food products in Alabama. Violations would be Class C misdemeanors. The bill gives enforcement tools to state agencies and food establishments, including disciplinary actions and possible suspension or revocation of food safety permits. It becomes effective October 1, 2024 and is exempt from requiring local funding under Section 111.05 due to a constitutional exception.

Who It Affects
Individuals or businesses that manufacture, sell, hold for sale, or distribute cultivated food products in Alabama would face criminal penalties for violations.
Food sales establishments that sell or distribute cultivated food products in violation would be subject to disciplinary actions and possible suspension or revocation of their food safety permits.
Owners or employees convicted of a violation could trigger permit and disciplinary actions.
State agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and Industries and the Department of Public Health, would enforce the rule and may adopt related rules.
Researchers affiliated with government entities or institutions of higher education partnered with government entities may conduct research on cultivated food production in the state.

Key Provisions
Defines cultivated food product as any food produced from cultured animal cells.
Prohibits manufacturing, selling, holding for sale, or distributing cultivated food products in the state; violation is a Class C misdemeanor.
Authorizes enforcement actions against food establishments, including disciplinary measures and suspension/revocation of food safety permits; permits may be suspended or revoked upon conviction of owners or employees.
Departments of Agriculture and Industries and Public Health may adopt rules to implement this section; research by certain government or higher-education entities is allowed; the act becomes effective October 1, 2024; it is exempt from the local-funding requirement under Section 111.05.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Consumer Protection; Health