South Carolina 126th General Assembly Status: Introduced

H 5096 — A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING ARTICLE 5 OF CHAPTER 17, TITLE 47, RELATING TO MISREPRESENTING PRODUCTS THAT ARE CELL-CULTURED MEAT, SO AS TO PROVIDE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MANUFACTURE, SELL, OR DISTRIBUTE ARTIFICIAL OR CELL-CULTIVATED FOOD PRODUCTS IN THIS STATE, TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CHANGE, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS ARTICLE, AND TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MAY PROMULGATE REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.

Last action — Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hewitt

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  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced February 04, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Prognosis

Not enough signal yet

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

Not enough signal yet to read this bill's trajectory — we surface a likelihood only once there's real movement (stage, sponsorship, committee, or votes) to point to.

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Summary

Lab grown/cultured meat

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill makes it illegal to manufacture, sell, or distribute artificial or cell-cultivated food products in South Carolina.

  • Section 47-17-510

    (B) It shall be unlawful for any person to: (1) manufacture, sell, hold, offer for sale, or distribute artificial or cell-cultivated food product in this State;

    Establishes a prohibition against manufacturing, selling, or distributing artificial or cell-cultivated food products.

  • Section 47-17-510

    (2) label any artificial or cell-cultivated food product as beef, poultry, fish, crustacean, or any other animal protein that the artificial or cell-cultivated food product may resemble for the purposes of advertising, manufacturing, selling, or holding or offering for sale in this State.

    Prohibits labeling artificial or cell-cultivated food products with animal protein names to prevent misleading practices.

  • Section 47-17-530

    (C) In addition to the penalties provided in this section, the business license of any restaurant, store, or other business may be suspended upon the conviction of an owner or employee of that business for a violation of this article in connection with that business.

    Introduces additional penalties for businesses whose employees violate the laws regarding artificial or cell-cultivated food products.

  • Section 47-17-530

    (D) The department may issue and enforce a stop-sale, stop-use, removal, or hold order on a product found to be in violation of this article.

    Grants the department authority to enforce product removal orders for violations of the bill.

  • Section 47-17-530

    (E) The department may promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this article.

    Allows the department to create regulations to enforce the new provisions regarding artificial or cell-cultivated food products.

Action History

  1. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hewitt

  2. Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources (Senate Journal-page 8)

  3. Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 8)

  4. Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 1)

  5. Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day (House Journal-page 26)

  6. Roll call Yeas-110 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 24)

  7. Read second time (House Journal-page 23)

  8. Amended (House Journal-page 23)

  9. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Cromer, Gilreath

  10. Committee report: Favorable with amendment Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs (House Journal-page 42)

  11. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Atkinson

  12. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Ligon

  13. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs (House Journal-page 11)

  14. Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 11)

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 25 co-sponsors · 144 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (25)

Not signed on (144)

144 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 144 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

technology agriculture
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Frequently asked questions

What does H 5096 do?
Lab grown/cultured meat
Who sponsors H 5096?
H 5096 is sponsored by Representative Lee Hewitt, Representative Thomas Lee Gilreath, Representative April Cromer, Representative Lucas Atkinson, Representative Craig A. Gagnon, Representative Thomas R. "Randy" Ligon, Representative William M. "Bill" Hixon, Representative Cally R. "Cal" Forrest, Jr., Representative Brandon L. Cox, Representative Sylleste H. Davis, Representative Paula Rawl Calhoon, Representative Harriet A. Holman, Representative Robby Robbins, Representative John T. Lastinger, Jr., Representative Donald G. "Don" Chapman, Representative Brandon Guffey, Representative Fawn M. Pedalino, Representative T. Alan Morgan, Jr., Representative William M. "Bill" Chumley, Representative Luke S. Rankin, Representative Gary S. Brewer, Jr., Representative James Mikell "Mike" Burns, Representative Richard L. "Richie" Yow, Representative Patrick B. Haddon, J.E. Johnson, and Brittain.
What is the current status of H 5096?
This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced February 04, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track H 5096?
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Last checked for changes 4 months ago · updated continuously

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