SB 148 Tennessee Senate · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Food and Food Products - As introduced, excludes a cell-cultured food product from the definitions of meat and poultry for purposes of the Tennessee Meat and Poultry Inspection Act; prohibits local education agencies (LEAs), public charter schools, and public institutions of higher education from offering or distributing a cell-cultured food product through its school nutrition program, food service center, or another source through which the LEA, public charter school, or public institution of higher education provides food to students. - Amends TCA Title 40; Title 44; Title 47; Title 49 and Title 53.

SB 148 excludes cell-cultured food products (like lab-grown meat) from the legal definitions of "meat" and "poultry" under Tennessee law. It prohibits public schools, charter schools, and colleges from serving these products in school nutrition programs or food services for students. The bill defines cell-cultured food as products made without slaughter using animal cells in controlled environments, and includes a sunset clause ending the ban on July 1, 2035. This directly affects school food providers but does not restrict commercial sales of such products outside educational settings.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action Jan 27, 2025
Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Jan 27, 2025
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
upper
Jan 16, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Mark Pody
Mark Pody
RRepublican
TN
17