Gov. Rhoden Charts Compromise on Cell-Cultured Protein
PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden charted a compromise on the issue of cell-cultured protein. In pursuit of this compromise, the Governor VETOED House Bill 1077 and advocated for an amended version of Senate Bill 124. Governor Rhoden outlined this path forward in a letter to the Legislature, which you can find here.
“While you won’t catch me eating these products, it is against our values to ban products just because we don’t like them. Fortunately, HB 1077 need not be the last word on this issue this Session,” wrote Governor Rhoden before charting the compromise, bringing together ag groups, legislators, and stakeholders on both sides of the bill.
Governor Rhoden offered support for an amended version of SB 124 that would:
- Impose a five-year temporary moratorium to permit further study within the existing regulatory framework and allow the pending litigation in other states to further unfold;
- Respect constitutional limits and reduce the risk of unnecessary litigation; and
- Preserve South Dakota’s long-standing commitment to our values.
“This approach respects constitutional limits, reduces the risk of unnecessary litigation, and preserves South Dakota’s long-standing commitment to free markets and agricultural leadership,” continued Governor Rhoden. “Government is best when it is limited. We should respect the freedoms of our people, and we should not set precedent that violates our own values.”
The South Dakota Farm Bureau, the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, and South Dakota Retailers all sent letters of support for the Governor’s VETO. You can find the South Dakota Farm Bureau’s statement here, the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association’s statement here, and the South Dakota Retailers’ statement here. The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association also voiced support for the Governor’s compromise.
Governor Rhoden has signed nine bills into law and VETOED one this legislative session.
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I like it, good call Governor.
Larry is done.
Dusty can measure the drapes.
Common sense prevails.
Well that’s a step closer to common sense, at least.
The consumer can’t help but notice a little bit of irony in the push to ban lab produced foods–but we’re not even supposed to question the use of lab produced, bio-engineered feeds, supplements and growth implants in food animals.
The AG sector would blow a gasket if they faced a 5 year moratorium on the use of that stuff.
We prefer and enjoy plant based meat including Impossible burgers and chicken patties. These tasty. healthier and more environmentally friendly beef alternatives are becoming increasingly more popular. It is great to see grocery stores steadily increase freezer shelf space to these products.
Incredibly awesome sarcasm right? haha
Haha! “Tastes” hahahahahahah….
I like it
But it was ok to ban the pipeline.
Nobody banned the pipeline.
Most certainly not the Gov’ner. Otherwise, he’d have vetoed it.
Nailed it
Rhoden doesn’t want to fight a useless lawsuit. Notice the usual attempts by Republicains to restrict initiative and referendum efforts were few and far between. The one I remember ie. paid signature gathering was bitch slapped. Notice republicans always want to restrict the voting process??
Restrict? Or ‘enforce’ or perhaps ’embrace with legality’?
Good call, I expressed similar sentiments when I communicated my thoughts to the governor.
Something tells me Julie Auch had an even bigger meltdown that she did on the house floor after she heard this news.
We will continue to enjoy our healthier, tastier and environmentally greener plant based burgers and chicken patties which have high turns in retail. These benefit grain farmers. We prefer Organic when possible.
Julie Auch and Dusty Johnson both won their elections today.
Wow Rhoden finds the common ground again.
It seems to be kind of what he does. It’s become such a foreign concept that some don’t even think it’s possible. BUT it is.
A federal lawsuit was filed in January 2026 against Texas that has a ban in place, An appeals court refused to dismiss the case as Texas requested. Both USDA and FDA have deemed the ‘meat’ as safe. Get ready for a lawsuit SD. Can’t have a stump jumper from Wasta or Watertown taking away the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution
You do know that by vetoing the bill, it means that it does not become law right? Pretty hard to have a lawsuit dealing with a law that doesn’t exist.
Preventing sales of a product is not an open to a lawsuit?
In 4 months you all can look back on this as the day Dusty Johnson became Governor.
Haha. Dusty would have called Larry out by now if he disagreed.
Whoa, wait, what if we applied this logic to all of the bills in the state? Could you imagine how many vetoes there would be if we omitted the bills that are just banning something “we don’t like”? What a concept!
This is the right call. SB124 is better policy.