House Agriculture Committee approves bill deeming federal pesticide labels to satisfy state warning requirements

The Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources voted to pass House Bill 2476 as amended during a committee meeting. The bill would deem a pesticide that is registered under applicable state or federal law and labeled consistent with federal health assessments or federal carcinogenicity classifications to satisfy state statutory or common-law health and safety warning or labeling requirements.

The measure prompted extensive questioning and two formal amendments. Revisor Kyle briefed the committee, explaining the bill’s mechanics and that it is intended to limit suits framed solely as a ‘‘duty to warn’’ when federal labeling applies while leaving other bases for claims, such as strict product liability or negligence, available. "Plaintiffs usually include multiple claims within their lawsuits and have been successful on other claims other than a duty to warn," Kyle said, describing the rationale behind the first amendment that was adopted by the committee.

Representative Rozier offered and the committee…