Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Product Liability And Agriculture topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Missouri committee approves bill limiting certain pesticide-related lawsuits after heated debate
Summary
The Missouri House Agriculture Committee voted 13–10 to give House Bill 544 a “do pass” recommendation after members debated whether the measure would bar certain claims against pesticide manufacturers and limit access to courts.
The Missouri House Agriculture Committee on Oct. 12 voted 13–10 to give House Bill 544 a recommendation of “do pass” after roughly an hour of debate over whether the measure would prevent Missourians from bringing certain legal claims against pesticide manufacturers.
Supporters said the bill protects the state’s agricultural economy and aligns state law with federal labeling and regulatory standards. Opponents said it would improperly restrict Missourians’ access to courts and accountability for harms they say are caused by the products.
Representative Blank, who opposed the bill, framed his remarks in personal terms, saying the measure “hits me hard” and citing a friend who died after cancer treatment. “To say that Missourians aren't gonna be allowed to have their time in court seems unconstitutional to me,” Representative Blank said. He added that without legal accountability, “they're going to continue to destroy more family farms.”
Representative Young also opposed the bill, saying labeling provides consumers and users “an opportunity to make an informed decision” and that the legislation would let companies “shirk their responsibility for their product.” “It puts the product over people,” Young said.
Representative Deal urged support for the bill on agricultural grounds, saying federal review and decades of data support product safety and help ensure agricultural productivity. “We have products to feed not only this country, feed the world,” Deal said, adding that federal processes such as EPA review and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) underpin labeling and approvals.
Other members raised constitutional concerns, the scope of the bill beyond a single product and whether the bill would adopt federal labels as the state standard. Representative Vance Coit said the bill “is accepting the EPA label as being the label for the state of Missouri. Period.” Representative Hayden and others questioned the quality and interpretation of scientific evidence presented in testimony, describing some studies as inconclusive or unrefereed.
After discussion, Chairman Justice moved that House Bill 544 be given a “do pass” recommendation. The committee recorded a roll call; by the committee’s announcement, the measure passed the committee 13 ayes to 10 noes.
The committee then moved on to a public hearing on a separate bill. The “do pass” recommendation for HB 544 advances the bill to the next stage of the House process, where further floor action and possible amendments may occur.
