701-566-9300House Bill 1318 would prevent lawsuits against a chemical manufacturer based upon a failure or duty to warn, if the label complies with the federal labelling requirements. This legislation would ensure any pesticide registered with the EPA, and sold under a label consistent with the EPA’s own determinations, are sufficient to satisfy requirements for health and safety warnings. Opponents have represented that this legislation would grant full immunity from lawsuits.
This legislation previously passed the House with 88 “yes” votes and 0 “no” votes. The Senate Agriculture Committee has now held a hearing on this Bill, and the Association has expressed strong support for this Bill.
Association board member, Josh Stutrud, submitted testimony to the Committee of the importance of this legislation to soybean farmers. He stated that it’s best to keep all pesticide options available to producers. He noted that: 1) The updated federal FIFRA label is readily available online, is easy to find with a simple google search and it’s hard to find someone without a smartphone in today’s world; 2) As long as the FIFRA label’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is followed, the opportunity for physical contamination is very minimal; and 3) The label is based on sound science. Josh believes this Bill would encourage companies to invest in more research to bring new and more pesticides to the market.
I will add that the Association is urgently supporting this Bill. The Association’s board met. and several of these board members have visited with other farmers and are expressing that this legislation is really important to be able to keep access to these science-based tools.
Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring also testified in support of this legislation. His comments were well-reasoned and very compelling. I completely agree with his opinion that this Bill does not grant full immunity for lawsuits. The arguments that this legislation grants full immunity to the pesticide manufacturers, may be a red herring.
The Georgia legislature has just passed this legislation, awaiting that Governor’s signature. Please contact the state senator in your district, and others you know, to ask then to vote “yes” to approve this legislation.