(Source: MIRS.news, Published 02/12/2025) Rep. Jerry Neyer (R-Shepherd), the chair of the House Agriculture Committee, introduced a bill on Wednesday that would require clear and obvious labels on any synthetically lab-grown meat substitutes or products to avoid confusion with actual meat. 

The bill already has 27 co-sponsors, including a pair of Democrats, Rep. Reggie Miller (D-Belleville), the former chair of the House Agriculture Committee, and Rep. Dylan Wegela (D-Garden City).  

Neyer describes HB 4076 as preventing consumers from buying products they don't intend to buy and preventing farmers from losing out on sales if someone mistakenly buys the meat substitute. Neyer is a farmer by profession. 

"If they're going to sell it, people should know what they're buying as soon as they look at the packaging, not once they get home and start wondering why steaks taste funny," Neyer said in a press release. "When you're running the kids around, have chores to do at home, and just got done with a long day of work – the last thing you want to do is investigate whether hamburger came from a cow or a test tube." 

Neyer introduced similar legislation last term and gathered 14 co-sponsors. 

Former Rep. Beau LaFave introduced it in 2021 and 2019 with four and two co-sponsors, respectively. The legislation has never moved from the House Agriculture Committee, although now the bill sponsor is the chair of the committee.