Pesticide Company Liability

What states have legislation governing pesticide company liability?

Pesticide companies are governed by EPA and state regulations.

Pesticides are chemicals used to control insects, fungi, rodents, and weeds (Sunkara 2023). Pesticide safety labels must be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) before the product can be sold commercially (7 U.S.C. § 136-136y). CA and NY have set additional warning label requirements beyond the EPA minimum.

Since 2016, personal injury lawsuits have alleged that pesticide manufacturers of paraquat and glyphosate failed to adequately warn users of potential health risks, which resulted in injury and harm (Hardeman vs. Monsanto Company et al., Johnson vs. Monsanto Company et al., Paraquat Cases JCCP5031, Marie 2020, Paraquat Products Liability Litigation v. Syngenta Crop Protection LLC et al., Pilliod et al. vs. Monsanto Company et al.).

States have been legally able to pass provisions that set stricter labeling standards than the EPA. However, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled on June 25, 2026 in Monsanto Company v. Durnell, that the supremacy of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act renders state laws requiring additional labeling illegal and unenforceable (SCOTUS 2026). Congress has also attempted but failed to pass provisions that would limit states’ ability to set stricter standards than the EPA (HR 6938).

Since February 2026, rules, regulations, or orders issued by the Department of Agriculture cannot risk the corporate viability of producers of glyphosate-based herbicides (Executive Order 14387). Congress has introduced legislation that would block the use of federal funds to execute this Executive Order, prevent glyphosate manufacturers from claiming legal immunity under the Defense Production Act, and preserve the rights of individuals to pursue injury claims under federal and state law (HR 7601). Similarly, S 2324 would preserve individuals’ right to sue pesticide manufacturers in civil court (S 2324).

Since 2023, four states reduced pesticide company liability.

GA, KY, and ND established that pesticides bearing an EPA approved label contain sufficient warning of risks to consumers (Table 1). Pesticide manufacturers in these states cannot be held liable for failing to warn consumers of health risks beyond what is required by the EPA. UT holds individuals liable for injuries resulting from misuse or misapplication of pesticides.

In addition, SD requires annual registration of pesticides, during which the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture may request information to determine if the pesticide will cause unreasonable harm to the environment (SD Code § 28-20A-4). The Secretary may cancel the state registration of a pesticide that does not comply with state law, is adulterated, or misbranded (SD Code § 38-20A-13). Similarly, MO requires registration of pesticides but does not cancel products (RSMo 281.260, MO Department of Agriculture 2025).

Since 2024, 11 states failed to pass bills that would reduce pesticide company liability.

From 2024-2026, legislation governing pesticide company liability failed in eleven states (FL, IA, KS, LA, MS, MO, MT, NC, OK, TN, and WY, Table 1). These proposals:

• Prohibit liability lawsuits if pesticide labels are EPA approved (FL, IA, MS, MT, OK, NC, TN, WY)
• Permit federal pesticide warning or labeling requirements to satisfy state requirements (KS, MO, WY)
• Exempt manufacturers from remediation costs or liability with respect to commercial pesticides (KS)
• Grant the state Department of Agriculture exclusive authority to make decisions regarding pesticides (LA)

Table 1. Legislation reducing pesticide company liability (2024-2026). Legislation to reduce liability for pesticide companies that became law is marked with a blue check, introduced legislation is marked with a red X.

References

7 U.S.C. § 136-136y Chapter 6 - Insecticides and Environmental Pesticide Control. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title7/html/USCODE-2023-title7-chap6.htm

CA Department of Pesticide Regulation (2026) How Pesticides are Evaluated. https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/how-pesticides-are-evaluated/

CS/HB 128 (2025) Florida House of Representatives. Products Liability Actions under the Florida Pesticide Law. https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=80646

Executive Order 14387 (2026) Promoting the National Defense by Ensuring an Adequate Supply of Elemental Phosphorous and Glyphosate-Based Herbicides. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/23/2026-03628/promoting-the-national-defense-by-ensuring-an-adequate-supply-of-elemental-phosphorus-and

Hardeman vs. Monsanto Company et al. (2016) U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Civil Action No.: 4:16-cv-00525-DMR. https://usrtk.org/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/2018/12/Edward-Hardeman-1st-amended-complaint-Feb.-2016.pdf

HB 0285 (2025) State of Wyoming. 68^th Legislature. Pesticide warning labels. https://wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2025/HB0285

HB 0809 (2026) Tennessee General Assembly. 114^th General Assembly (2025-2026). https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=SB0527&ga=114

HB 522 (2025) Montana Legislature. https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2816

HB 544 (2025) Missouri House. 103^rd General Assembly, First Regular Session. https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB544&year=2025&code=R

HB 1019 (2026) South Dakota Legislature. An Act to revise provisions regarding pesticide laws. https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/26682/298121

HB 1318 (2026) North Dakota 69^th Legislative Assembly (2025-27). https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/bill-overview/bo1318.html

HB 2340 (2026) Kansas Legislature. https://www.kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/bills/hb2340/

HB 2476 (2026) Kansas Legislature. https://www.kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/bills/hb2476/

HB 2712 (2026) Missouri House. 103^rd General Assembly, Second Regular Session. https://house.mo.gov/bill.aspx?bill=HB2712&year=2026&code=R

H.R. 6938 (2026) Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act 2026. 119^th Congress. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6938

H.R. 7601 (2026) No Immunity for Glyphosate Act. 119^th Congress. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7601

Johnson vs. Monsanto Company et al. (2016) Superior Court of California for the County of San Francisco, Case Number CGC16550128. https://webapps.sftc.org/ci/CaseInfo.dll?CaseNum=CGC16550128&SessionID=EEC7E79199F31D70DEC22042EA7E057D275E9820

Marie C (2020) Review of Litigation Against Monsanto Regarding the Safety of Glyphosate. Pennsylvania State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law. https://aglaw.psu.edu/ag-law-in-the-spotlight/review-of-litigation-against-monsanto-regarding-the-safety-of-glyphosate/

MO Department of Agriculture (2025) Pesticide Control. https://www.agriculture.mo.gov/plants/pesticides/

NY Code § 33-1503 Procedure following seizure. https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/ENV/33-1503

Paraquat Cases (2019) JCCP5031. Petition of Paraquat Cases. https://www.docketalarm.com/cases/California_State_Contra_Costa_County_Superior_Court/MS5031/Petition_of--_PARAQUAT_CASES/

Paraquat Products Liability Litigation v. Syngenta Crop Protection LLC et al. (2021) United States District Court, Southern District of Illinois. Case no. 3:21-md-3004-njr. https://www.ilsd.uscourts.gov/paraquat-products-liability-litigation

Pilliod et al. vs. Monsanto Company et al. (2018) Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Alameda, Case No.: RG17862702. https://usrtk.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Pilliod-motion-for-Leave-to-file-first-amended-complaint.pdf

RSMo 281.260. Registration of pesticides - renewal - fees - powers of director - cancellation of registration on notice and hearing - experimental use permit issued when - revocation. https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=281.260&bid=47646&hl=

2025. 2324 (2025) Pesticide Injury Accountability Act of 2025. 119^th Congress. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2324

S.B. 0026 (2026) Utah State Legislature. Pest Control Amendments. https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/static/SB0026.html

SB 0527 (2025) Tennessee General Assembly. 114^th General Assembly (2025-2026). https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=SB0527&ga=114

SB 108 (2026) Louisiana State Legislature. https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=26rs&b=SB108&sbi=y

SB 144 (2026) Georgia General Assembly. Fertilizers or Pesticides; a manufacturer cannot be held liable for failing to warn consumers of health risks above those required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency; clarify. https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70190

SB 199 (2026) Kentucky General Assembly. AN ACT relating to pesticide labeling. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/sb199.html

SB 390 (2026) Kansas Legislature. https://www.kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/bills/sb390/

SB 394 (2025) Iowa Legislature. https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=SF394&ga=91

SB 639 (2025) North Carolina General Assembly. 2025-2026 Session. North Carolina Farm Act of 2025. https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S639

SB 1005 (2026) Missouri Senate. 2026 Second Regular Session. https://www.senate.mo.gov/BillTracking/Bills/BillInformation?year=2026&billid=545

SB 1078 (2025) Oklahoma State Legislature. 2025 Regular Session. https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB1078&Session=2500

SB 2412 (2026) Iowa Legislature. https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=SF2412&ga=90

SB 2472 (2025) Mississippi Legislature. 2025 Regular Session. https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/SB/SB2472.xml

SD Code § 38-20A-4. Pesticides--Sale or distribution--Registration--Contents--Fees--Cancellation. https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/38-20A-4

SF 0074 (2026) State of Wyoming. 68^th Legislature. Pesticide warning labels. https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2026/SF0074

Sunkara, M (2023) Agrochemicals: An Overview of their Types and Impact on Agriculture. Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Research. 14(2). https://www.longdom.org/open-access/agrochemicals-an-overview-of-their-types-and-impact-on-agriculture-101379.html

Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) (2026) No. 24-1068 Monsanto Company, Petitioner v. John L. Durnell. https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24-1068.html