Published February 4th, 2025. Updated March 4th, 2025.
The proposed U.S. House Farm Bill will give immunity to pesticide manufacturers from liability associated with adverse health effects or injuries from their chemicals. The bill will also remove local and state protections on pesticide application.
Congress has to vote on a new Farm Bill by Sept. 30, 2025, and there’s two sneaky provisions hidden inside the House’s proposed version to protect agrochemical companies. Section 10204 of the House Republican Farm Bill wants to give immunity to pesticide producers from liability lawsuits associated with any harm or adverse health effects caused by exposure to their chemicals. Section 10204 and 10205 would block state and local governments from passing laws about pesticides or requiring more disclosures. Over 40 states currently restrict pesticide use near schools because of the significant health risk posed by the close proximity to the pesticides. The EWG found that over 4,000 elementary schools are within 200 feet of a crop field where pesticides are sprayed. This number doesn’t include middle or high schools, private schools, parks, and playgrounds. The new farm bill would remove all active measures that protect the health and safety of schoolchildren and prevent new ones from being passed.
If you’re wondering why these provisions were included, all you need to do is follow the money. The House Agriculture Committee head Glenn Thompson received $25,000 in lobbying from three of the four largest agrochemical giants that have an oligopoly on pesticides and seeds. As of January 20th, Arkansas Senator John Boozman became the Senate Agriculture Chair. Boozman also received a staggering $47,250 from Syngenta, Bayer, and BASF. Since the heads of both the House and Senate Agriculture Committee are in support of chemical manufacturers, we can expect for the new farm bill to protect them and strip protections from farm workers and school children until at least 2029.
Since the Farm Bill was extended through September, the agrochemical companies are turning their focus to state governments. The companies want one state to pass the liability immunity law, so that it becomes a precedent for other states and the federal government. If passed, this could be one of the most damaging and concerning health rollbacks ever.
It is extremely important that you contact your State and US Senators and Representatives to let them know that:
1). You do not support liability immunity for pesticide manufacturers.
2). You support state and local government passing regulation on pesticide application, especially near schools.
3). You support protections for farm workers and school children, NOT for chemical companies.
4). People affected by exposure to pesticides should be able to sue, and pesticide companies should be held accountable.
5). Product safety is the responsibility of pesticide manufacturers and not the EPA.
Here is a full list of US House Representatives and their contact information. Here is a full list of US Senators and their contact information.
At least 21 states are reportedly introducing legislation to provide similar liability immunity for pesticide producers. You can contact your respective state house and senate representatives.
- Georgia SB 144 Passed through committee. https://www.legis.ga.gov/members/house
- Montana HB 522 Second reading March 4, at 1 PM MST. https://www.legmt.gov/house/
- Wyoming HB 285 (Defeated)
- Missouri HB 544/SB 14 March 5 Committee Vote. https://house.mo.gov/memberdetails.aspx?district=125
- Idaho HB303 Committee hearing March 4 at 1:30 PM MST. https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/standingcommittees/HAGR/
- Iowa SSB 1051 https://www.legis.iowa.gov/committees/committee?ga=91&groupID=697
- Florida HB 129 https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Committees/committeesdetail.aspx?CommitteeId=3299
- North Dakota HB 1318 Senate Bill March 6, at 10 AM CST. https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/committees/senate/agriculture-and-veterans-affairs
- Oklahoma HB 1755 Introduced to the senate. https://oksenate.gov/senators
- Mississippi HB 1221/SB 2472 (Defeated)
- Tennessee HB 809/SB 527 https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/CommitteeInfo/SenateComm.aspx?ga=114&committeekey=640000
The good news is we were all able to mobilize enough opposition that Mississippi's proposed pesticide liability immunity bill failed to pass the House Judiciary Committee on February 4.
