[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6103379,"mediaKeyId","2796746-62fa008f2cf2a5447fd3225d5793624e","parentId",2796746,"title","Senate ag committee advances bill saying EPA-approved pesticide labels satisfy state warning rules","audioSeconds",2631,"startMs",489000,"endMs",3120000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2796746-62fa008f2cf2a5447fd3225d5793624e&start=489&end=3120","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2796746-62fa008f2cf2a5447fd3225d5793624e/thumbnail_489000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6103379/North-Dakota/Senate-ag-committee-advances-bill-saying-EPA-approved-pesticide-labels-satisfy-state-warning-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103379-a92f3936d6109e8a0c84b1b8d543d64d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154699&Signature=WUzMZ7QnnNnRG4xe0vKszofUXPhwIn-CDRWb1ygzvtixkGsWQYvWb8s3RgrWBXka~8JPPXe8v6-uwEt7V76u1GEXfZqX9f3YTkCz5zxkklmJe~nw7S15RwnimI~yn1Wzvy~7Qpsg2jf4-Aq3IMAaiWIPj1Ozm-fs9C7zvBWR9cOqFu8gUG2rrn5YfkHds8nmJQGPuFbEsexHAnQwf7kuHTeYndxY8OH7pFiBfutu~ggrWCdacHdrjWtEcXMtB6PTM5BsXyu4KEPqEvMsBsoA7oDGLXlfFZU57yTj~YkOdK70cvGT9GijxfPs8MCY0YtvSFZxBh7e3co2I1VNAP~wSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota Legislature","date","2025-03-27T00:00:00Z","article","House Bill 1318, a proposal that would make an EPA-approved pesticide label sufficient to satisfy North Dakota’s state law requirements for warnings and labeling, drew hours of testimony Wednesday and was advanced by the Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee after an amendment narrowing the measure was adopted.

The bill’s proponents told the committee that deferring to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on label language protects farmers from lawsuits that can lead to vacated labels and lost pesticide options. Opponents, including trial-lawyer and consumer-advocacy groups, said the bill would limit injured parties’ ability to hold manufacturers accountable and could shift liability onto retailers and employers.

Supporters argued the measure preserves regulatory uniformity and recognizes EPA’s scientific review. “The label is the law,” agronomist Sarah Hall Levitz testified, saying the EPA’s registration process and public dockets produce comprehensive review and that “not to follow the label is breaking the law.” Mark Barrons, appearing for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, described the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and told the committee the EPA’s labeling process is intended to reflect expert, regulatory review.

Bayer medical-affairs lead Dr. Liza Lockwood told the committee she is “an emergency physician and a medical toxicologist” and summarized her view that regulatory assessments have not shown glyphosate causes cancer, saying international regulatory bodies that review exposure and risk have concluded no association.

Opponents urged caution. Jackie Hall, executive director of the North Dakota Association for Justice, said the bill “would fundamentally alter this established accountability” and argued that language in the current draft could grant manufacturers immunity for complying with EPA labeling even if the product is misbranded. Hall and others proposed an amendment to preserve a path to sue if a manufacturer violates federal misbranding standards.

Researchers and clinicians who opposed the bill also warned that newer studies postdating EPA reviews could change the scientific picture and that plaintiffs should retain a route to bring claims when substantial evidence emerges. Dr. Jake Schmitz and other health professionals cited systematic reviews and epidemiologic research they said indicate elevated cancer risks in populations near intensive pesticide use.

Committee action: the panel adopted an amendment that adds language clarifying that an EPA label “shall be sufficient to satisfy any requirements for a warning or labeling regarding health or safety under this chapter.” After debate, the committee voted to advance HB 1318 as amended. Senator Meerdal was identified as the committee member who will carry the bill to the floor.

Why it matters: proponents said the bill protects farmers’ pesticide options and avoids state-by-state patchworks of labels, while opponents said it narrows legal accountability and could leave sellers and employers exposed when manufacturers avoid responsibility.

Votes and next steps: the committee’s roll calls recorded members on both sides; the committee advanced the bill to the full Senate for further consideration. The bill may still be amended on the floor and faces additional committee and chamber votes.

(Reporting note: testimony and quoted material in this article come from the committee hearing transcript of March 21, 2025.)

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Mar 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 1318, a proposal that would make an EPA-approved pesticide label sufficient to satisfy North Dakota’s state law requirements for warnings and labeling, drew hours of testimony Wednesday and was advanced by the Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee after an amendment narrowing the measure was adopted.","taxTitle","Agriculture and Veterans Affairs, Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28898,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6103370,"Committee narrows drone bill to bar use of robots for offensive conduct without legitimate purpose",647,9399000,10046000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2796746-62fa008f2cf2a5447fd3225d5793624e&start=9399&end=10046","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2796746-62fa008f2cf2a5447fd3225d5793624e/thumbnail_9399000.jpg","/articles/6103370/North-Dakota/Committee-narrows-drone-bill-to-bar-use-of-robots-for-offensive-conduct-without-legitimate-purpose","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103370-57bee701d5566ee25d8c1280fa2f6c76/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154699&Signature=dc6N5HjsFXN4ymO4xGmhrkulk-KY9k-Uw4YR8u0SpbW5RzRmw4~tRoIjEYmXg57joqmB75O3jhObgo9~AFkmTSHJaVaSbt~x8ALdBTI7goQtbm2lztzd4aHfpJSpNW6i8r0nD1XI31j57Wp-qKrf5JZTLDMXYjXctwXZsMD6xCC42wpyBiNwXZjyaHa0ktSBQpZGYIxb2VQKP8P5SQHkncWnF~ysEqlIpneK6C69Jv1ux2z3fTfgGG6SxjDPD8f1oKlayTAfxAWfgFhB3xsbaKu1ABPU-DEzC6E8SEdKems6xHqdCRuhY4iiz9PHQxmF6ZNCLmtaMT1yVH7p~znCnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee approved an amended version of House Bill 1429 Wednesday that narrows how state law covers the use of drones and other robotic devices near people, livestock and wildlife.

Sponsor supporters and opponents had confronted a broad original draft that used terms such as “intimidating wildlife” or animals; committee members said those phrases would be difficult to interpret and enforce in court. Senator Meerdal offered an amendment that focuses on using a robotic device to engage in offensive conduct with no legitimate purpose, language the sponsor approved as capturing the bill’s intent while avoiding vague criminal standards.

“Some testimony raised questions about whether language like ‘intimidate’ or ‘dominate’ animals would be too ambiguous for enforcement,” the senator said during debate; the amended language instead creates a harassment-based approach tied to existing state stalking and harassment statutes with a narrow “robot” definition.

Under the amendment, the statutory harassment provisions would be extended to cover a person’s use of an artificial object (defined in the bill to include drones or robots) to commit offensive conduct when there is no legitimate purpose. Committee counsel adjusted drafting to remove redundant references to causing “mental anguish” because the harassment statute already addresses that element in other subsections.

Committee action: members adopted the revised amendment, then voted to advance HB 1429 as amended to the full Senate. Senator Lam agreed to carry the bill.

Why it matters: the revision aims to balance property owners’ and livestock producers’ concerns about harassment and animal disturbance with legal clarity so courts can apply existing harassment standards to modern devices such as drones.

Next steps: HB 1429 will be reported out of committee and proceed to the Senate floor for further debate and possible amendment.

(Reporting note: testimony and quoted material in this article come from the committee hearing transcript of March 21, 2025.)

","An amended version of House Bill 1429, addressing the use of drones and other robotic devices near people, livestock and wildlife, was approved by the Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee after members replaced broad 'intimidation' language with a provision focused on use of robotic devices to engage in offensive conduct with no legitimate,",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6103375,"Committee reconsiders veterans-assistance bill; debate centers on accreditation and private preparer services",2495,6631000,9126000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2796746-62fa008f2cf2a5447fd3225d5793624e&start=6631&end=9126","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2796746-62fa008f2cf2a5447fd3225d5793624e/thumbnail_6631000.jpg","/articles/6103375/North-Dakota/Committee-reconsiders-veterans-assistance-bill-debate-centers-on-accreditation-and-private-preparer-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103375-f1b0f235d91ac7fdc73c5cc689253032/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154699&Signature=Q6awJFIHUC2VlaMzjB1zcMF5~8KSNDoDdrfaU2peRZtyccrNY18wBUU~BYi6C7Hc9Pm9R8l4ulxiCIDiGCmZQLcttBLc6W3xWoyM0aa1y5M~qtyPYEYInNewqR7ggFLFMBbLywaHGoGHY9WfqL~5gX1YqWpp614EU2eFO3sJsdxPif~NPalaRPujjAWnFlPPkqBVbO1G0Pa3fBpD9A6EO-VsdVk-k0IQE6hzUjjI~PQRR8IHr03sjOfB1yg2XURgk9GODS38JCZX2uQydCN63AjdtiRBXpFyYDlk-25lr9BgjPRmWfUyTqa6hjLMl1ad3fuFecSdo5hdtadea0AL9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee reopened and advanced House Bill 1169 after hearing testimony about whether individuals or businesses that assist veterans in preparing claims must be accredited under federal Veterans Affairs rules.

The bill as discussed would require that persons who assist veterans in compiling or filing VA benefit claims follow federal law on accreditation and would prohibit receiving compensation for unaccredited assistance in certain circumstances. Lonnie Wangen, Commissioner of Veterans Affairs for North Dakota, said the amendment’s intent is to require those who assist veterans to follow federal rules and to provide a state enforcement mechanism where none exists now.

“By federal law you need to be accredited to prepare, assist and present claims to the VA,” Commissioner Wangen told the committee, describing cases where veterans later discovered they owed fees or had duplicate assistance because unaccredited preparers were involved.

Private companies that provide preparatory services told the committee their business model is lawful under current federal guidance when the preparer does not “assist in preparation, presentation or prosecution” before the VA. Amy Cleary of the GA Group, representing Veteran Benefits Guide, said private preparers provide a choice for veterans who want non‑accredited help assembling their paperwork and that adding a state requirement to force accreditation would make those private services untenable. “The adoption of that amendment would render the bill nullified,” Cleary told the committee, saying the firms comply with federal limits on representation and charge for work that is allowed.

The Attorney General’s office and the VA Office of General Counsel were cited by multiple witnesses. Assistant Attorney General Mark Openshaw said the VA’s Office of General Counsel guidance distinguishes between preparatory, nonrepresentational services and activities that constitute practice before the VA and therefore require accreditation. Openshaw and other witnesses also told the committee that the VA’s guidance is not the product of extensive federal case law, producing some legal uncertainty about how a court would treat borderline activities.

Committee action: after procedural votes to reconsider the bill, the committee moved to advance HB 1169 as the committee had previously amended it; Senator Meerdal was identified to carry the bill to the floor. Committee members said they would consult further with the Attorney General’s office and congressional activity (bills pending in Congress) before final action on related statutory language.

Why it matters: the bill seeks to protect veterans from fee charges by unaccredited preparers and to codify enforcement under state law; opponents say state requirements should not block private, lawful preparers from offering services veterans want.

Next steps: the committee advanced the bill to the Senate floor. Committee members indicated interest in monitoring pending federal legislation that would modify accreditation rules and possible state–federal interactions.

(Reporting note: testimony and quoted material in this article come from the committee hearing transcript of March 21, 2025.)

","The committee voted to take HB 1169 back up and advanced it to the Senate floor after hearing from the state veterans commissioner, private veteran-claim preparers and the Attorney General's office about whether state law should require people who assist veterans to follow federal VA accreditation rules.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate ag committee advances bill saying EPA-approved pesticide labels satisfy state warning rules

Committee narrows drone bill to bar use of robots for offensive conduct without legitimate purpose

Committee reconsiders veterans-assistance bill; debate centers on accreditation and private preparer services