AUSTIN, TEXAS — With Texas Governor Greg Abbott signing SB261 into law on June 20, Texas has become the seventh state to ban cultivated meat.

Set to take effect on Sept. 1, the law prohibits the sale of cell-cultured protein for human consumption within the state.

The partisan bill was sponsored by 25 Republican representatives seeking to stabilize Texas’ position as a leader in traditionally raised beef production.

The ratification of the bill was supported by the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA).

The group believes the law will “prevent Texas consumers from being a science experiment as companies seek to profit from selling cell-cultured protein with no long-term health studies. This bill also pushes back on an agenda by certain radical groups and companies who seek to end traditional animal agriculture,” TSCRA said.

“Ranchers across Texas work tirelessly to raise healthy cattle and produce high-quality beef,” said TSCRA President Carl Ray Polk Jr. “Our association is grateful for those legislators who voted in support of this legislation and understood the core of this bill, to protect our consumers, the beef industry and animal agriculture.”

Other states that have banned cultivated meat include Montana, Indiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Nebraska.

Currently, though, Florida is facing pushback from cultivated meat company Upside Foods. The company filed a lawsuit citing violations of the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution.