Nebraska Legislature Considers Banning Lab-Grown Meat, Looting Penalties

In a bold legislative session, Nebraska lawmakers introduced a series of proposals with significant implications for agriculture, consumer protection, and disaster response. These legislative measures, announced Tuesday, are set to shape the future of Nebraska’s largest industry and community safety.

Protecting Nebraska’s Agricultural Interests

Governor Jim Pillen has thrown his support behind two pivotal agricultural bills. Senator Barry DeKay is leading the charge to prohibit the production and sale of lab-grown meat in the state. Governor Pillen emphasized the necessity of taking a proactive stance in safeguarding Nebraska’s agricultural sector, stating, “It’s really, really important that we not only defend agriculture but that we get on offense and be assertive in our position of agriculture.”

Governor Pillen further elaborated on the proposed ban, highlighting the uniqueness of lab-grown meat, also referred to as “bioreactor meat.” He remarked, “Sen. DeKay is introducing legislation on this topic at my request, that will ban petri-dish meat – I call it ‘bioreactor meat’ – from being made or sold or distributed in Nebraska. It’s really simple. If somebody wants to eat that stuff, they’re welcome to it. They’re just not going to find it on Nebraska grocery stores. They can get it through Amazon or however they want.”

When questioned about the state’s role in regulating retail offerings, Pillen responded, “Our job is to make sure that we protect the livelihood of Nebraska. Our job is to protect consumers. Our job is to protect agriculture and defend agriculture. That’s a responsibility. Most of us want government out of our hair, but there’s places where government needs to step in and protect us.”

Currently, lab-grown meat is not available in Nebraska, as confirmed by Ansley Fellers of the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association, who noted that the association has yet to take a stance on the bill.

Ensuring Farmers’ Data Autonomy

In a related move, Senator Mike Jacobson is set to introduce legislation aimed at securing farmers’ control over agricultural data. This proposal seeks to prevent large corporations from monopolizing data generated by farming equipment, which could lead to market manipulation. Jacobson expressed concern over the potential misuse of aggregated data, especially with advancements in AI, stating, “There’s a lot of things that can be done if you want to aggregate all of that information, particularly with the use of AI – can give you some significant power.”

Addressing Natural Disaster Aftermath

Senator Brad von Gillern has proposed increasing penalties for crimes committed following natural disasters. Reflecting on recent events, von Gillern recounted the looting and violence that occurred after tornados hit Omaha, asserting, “It’s bad enough that somebody steals from you. But to steal from somebody who’s gone through a natural disaster is in my mind deserving of a greater penalty.”

Advocating for Reproductive Health Coverage

Senator Danielle Conrad has introduced legislation to mandate that the health insurance plan for state employees includes coverage for in vitro fertilization. Conrad emphasized the importance of this coverage, highlighting its absence and stating, “If we can do a little bit to provide access, without saddling state taxpayers with any additional financial impact, to help more Nebraskans start a family or expand a family, that’s the kind of common ground, common sense reproductive justice measures that I think can move through this body.”

Conrad’s previous attempt to pass similar legislation did not advance out of committee.