meat labeling

Wyoming’s Senate wrapped up its week with a flurry of activity Friday, approving bills addressing meat labeling, a statewide study of health care costs and drunken boating.

SF 68 would require that only meat from livestock or poultry could be labeled as meat. The measure would also require that any meat not made from a harvested animal — such as a vegetable-based product — would have to be labeled as “imitation food.” The bill won final approval from the Senate on a vote of 25-3 and was sent to the House for its review.

Backers of SF 67 are seeking a study of Wyoming’s health care costs because national figures show the average cost to treat a patient in Wyoming is $4,000, compared to the national average of $3,000. The bill was approved in its first review by the full body on Friday and will be heard in its second reading Monday.

Finally, a measure that would impose the same standards on boating while drunk as are in place for driving while intoxicated was also approved in its first reading. SF 40 would set the blood-alcohol limit for operating a boat at 0.08 percent — the same limit in place for driving a car. For years, the boating standard has been set at 0.1 percent.