Meat labeling; clarify laws concerning.
Mississippi's SB 2638 amends food labeling laws to clarify rules around misbranded meat and dairy products. It adds a specific definition for "cell-cultured dairy products" (products made from animal cells grown outside a live animal) and expands the definition of "identifying meat terms" to prevent consumer confusion with plant-based or lab-grown alternatives. The bill also clarifies the Mississippi Department of Agriculture's authority to inspect food facilities based on complaints and updates penalties for selling misbranded products. These changes directly affect food manufacturers, retailers, and consumers by setting clearer labeling standards for new food products. The bill does not ban any products but ensures they are accurately labeled to avoid misleading terms.
Bill status
died
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Governor
Introduced Feb 13, 2026
Last action Mar 26, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Committee Substitute
→
Current version
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended from its Committee Substitute version to its version as passed by the Senate. The most significant substantive change is in the effective date section, which now includes a repeal date of June 30, 2026, meaning the law will only be in effect for a single day in July 2026. Minor formatting changes were also made to text labels and spacing throughout the document.
Scope change
The bill's effective timeline was significantly altered to create a one-day implementation window, suggesting the legislation may be intended for immediate review or may require additional legislative action before becoming permanently effective.
TIMELINE
Added a repeal date of June 30, 2026, limiting the bill's effect to only July 1, 2026, rather than remaining in force indefinitely.
TECHNICAL
Changed the bill title from 'Committee Substitute' to 'As Passed the Senate' to reflect its legislative status.
Minor formatting adjustments to text spacing and character encoding in definition sections.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 11, 2026 · House Mar 4, 2026
How they voted
52–0
Passed
Total votes 52
Feb 11, 2026
D
Democratic18
100% Yea
R
Republican34
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
15
Key actions
6
Committee
4
Amendments
2
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed As Amended
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass As Amended
lower
Feb 16, 2026
Committee
Referred To Agriculture;Appropriations A
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Introduced
Transmitted To House
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed As Amended
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub
upper
Jan 19, 2026
Committee
Referred To Agriculture;Appropriations
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Neil Whaley
RRepublican
Co
Andy Berry
RRepublican
Co
Chuck Younger
RRepublican
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