During the last Idaho legislative session, pesticide manufacturers worked hard to pass a bill that would have given them legal immunity if their products harmed neighbors, farmworkers, farmers, or the environment. Three different versions of the bill were introduced, one was voted down in February on the Senate floor, and the others died due to a lack of support.
Despite their failure, sponsors of the bill seem to have every intention to reintroduce the bill next January, when the 2025 Idaho Legislature convenes. And they’re also working to pass a pesticide immunity bill through Congress.
Led by the international pharmaceutical and agricultural corporation, Bayer, the effort stems from litigation associated with the world’s most commonly-used pesticide, Roundup. Bayer alone has suffered losses from several lawsuits that have totaled upwards of $15 billion since they acquired Monsanto in 2018. The lawsuits allege that exposure to Roundup contributed to Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and other cancers.
During the legislative effort in Idaho, Bayer was joined by ChemChina, a Chinese state-owned company that produces paraquat—a pesticide that is banned in 60+ countries (including China) due to concerns that it may contribute to Parkinson’s disease.
Juries have found pesticide companies liable for damages in some cases, and Bayer and other manufacturers have agreed to multi-billion dollar settlements. Now these same companies want the Idaho Legislature to prohibit Idahoans from joining any future settlements or lawsuits.
It failed in Iowa and Missouri too
The effort to provide sweeping legal immunity to pesticide producers also played out in other statehouses, where Bayer’s pesticide operations are based (Missouri) and where they produce Roundup (Iowa). The reason Bayer targeted Idaho was because the phosphate mines in southeast Idaho are their primary source of Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate.
In all three states, a diverse coalition of lawmakers opposed the bill. Democrats voted against weakening legal access for farmworkers, farmers, and rural families who can all be impacted by dangerous pesticides. They were joined by conservative Republicans who took issue with special deals for corporate interests, especially immunity for foreign-owned conglomerates like Bayer and ChemChina.
Together, the coalition had the numbers in each state to defeat the bill.
Now, they’re also pushing it in Congress
As they stumble at the state level, Bayer and pesticide manufacturers have been working hard in Washington, DC to pass a national measure that would similarly block litigation, and another measure that would preempt any local pesticide ordinances or prohibitions, i.e. around schools, hospitals, or nursing homes.
Some of the provisions have been attached to appropriation bills, but opposition from the Democratic-controlled Senate has so far blocked the measures from moving forward. Hundreds of other elected officials from across the country have also spoken out against these dangerous measures.
So, where do we go from here?
Pesticides play an important role in Idaho agriculture, but their use can also pose significant risks to human health, ecosystems, and biodiversity. Granting legal immunity to manufacturers undermines the fundamental legal rights of individuals and communities harmed by these chemicals, and violates the commitments made by many pesticide manufacturers to protect the health and human rights of their employees, farmworkers, and neighbors.
That’s why farmworkers, public health advocates, conservation interests, and some agricultural interests are working together to protect community health and legal justice by pushing back against these efforts by large, multinational corporations to take away your rights.
By shielding pesticide manufacturers, such legislation would strip affected individuals of their right to seek justice and compensation for damages caused by pesticide use. It would establish a dangerous precedent that prioritizes corporate interests over public health and environmental protection.
Furthermore, immunity for pesticide manufacturers would discourage innovation in safer and more sustainable alternatives. Without accountability, there is little incentive for companies to invest in research and development of less toxic pest management strategies, perpetuating a cycle of environmental degradation and increased health risks.
We urge lawmakers in Idaho, and across the country, to reject any effort that seeks to grant immunity to pesticide manufacturers, or preempts pesticide regulations. Instead, we urge our leaders to prioritize the protection of public health, the environment, and the rights of Idahoans, and all Americans.
What can you do?
Sign the petition linked below to let Idaho Governor Brad Little and legislators know that you want to see public health and legal rights protected, and that pesticide manufacturer’s don’t deserve a free pass.
Sign the petition today to oppose future efforts to provide immunity to pesticide manufacturers!