Here are just a few of the other bills we worked on this past week or that we are watching:
HB 1077 Considers a cultivated protein food to be adulterated.
Position: Oppose. To define an otherwise legal and inspected product adulterated puts the food safety system at risk. These products are inspected and regulated at a federal level. SDCA and other groups worked to successfully pass stronger labeling laws in 2025 that clearly distinguished cell cultivated products so consumer can easily identify them. Read Craig Bieber's Op Ed here that clarifies SDCA's position on HB 1077.
Status: Vetoed by Governor
SB 124 Imposes a 10 year prohibition the manufacture, sale, and distribution of any product containing a cell-cultured protein.
Position: Oppose. While not a ban, similar public policy concerns may exist about limiting a free market and casting doubt on food safety systems. It is unclear how the passage of 1077 will impact this measure moving forward.
Status: Introduced
SB 156 Modifies the crime of cruelty to an animal in certain circumstances and increases the penalty to a Class 4 felony punishable by up to 10 years and $20,000. The general penalty for animal cruelty would remain a lesser Class 6 felony. This bill stems from a recent incident in which an animal was harmed in a manner that was especially horrific.
Position: Oppose
Status: Passed Senate Judiciary 4-3, passed full Senate 25-8. The bill now moves over to the House Agriculture Committee.
HB 1147 Makes an appropriation for the purchase and distribution of food by a statewide distribution organization. The bill appropriates $5 Million dollars to DANR to aid in statewide food distribution including the purchase of food from local producers.
Position: Watch
Status: Introduced and assigned to Joint Appropriations
HB 1294 Would prohibit geoengineering in the state.
Position: Oppose. The bill claimed to be a preemptive measure to prohibit geoengineering/ climate modification, however even after heavily amended it had potential to also prohibit beneficial land management and ag practices because the bill prohibited activities that remove carbon dioxide and reflect sunlight (trees, pastures, cropland... and so much more)
Status: Defeated in House Ag Committee.
HCR 6016 Is a new resolution seeking reform of the Beef Checkoff, specifically in support of the OFF Act.
Position: Oppose. Supporting the OFF Act is detrimental to not only the Beef Checkoff, but other Checkoffs that fall under USDA as well. Read Craig's editorial on the OFF Act here.
Status: Introduced
All the 2026 bills filed can be found on the LRC website (see the legislative resources buttons below). SDCA compiles a list of bills we are watching which can be found in the Legislative Tracker. Please feel to reach out with any questions or if there are bills that you wish to testify on; our team is happy to help you!
Also in the tracker is a list of local cracker barrels and legislative coffee events across the state. Please attend these events in your community to give feedback to your legislators!
