Relating to pesticides, by providing for tort liability

Sponsored by the Senate Judiciary Committee

Topics:Courts & civil law Environment & natural resources PFAS & chemicals

Same legislation: SSB 1051

Write your legislators about it

Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedJanuary 28, 2025
Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 30, 2025
Done: Senate committeeFebruary 19, 2025
Done: Passes the SenateMarch 26, 202526–21
Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
Next: Passes the House
Next: To the Governor
Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary People who use pesticides registered by the federal government would be protected from certain lawsuits. A pesticide label is considered a sufficient warning if it meets specific safety standards set by the EPA. This rule applies to state laws and legal duties regarding health and safety warnings.¹

Read the official explanation

This bill provides for a defense from civil liability associated with the use of pesticides that are registered with the United States environmental protection agency (EPA) acting under the federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (federal Act). The bill specifies that a label provides sufficient warning if it complies with any one of three criteria: (1) it was approved by the EPA, (2) it is consistent with the most recent human health assessment performed under the federal Act, or (3) it is consistent with the EPA’s carcinogenicity classification for the pesticide. In each case, the label is sufficient to satisfy any requirements for a warning or label regarding health or safety under Code chapter 206 (pesticide regulation), any other provision of state law concerning the duty to warn or label, or any other common law duty to warn.

Why it matters. People who use pesticides registered with the EPA would be protected from certain civil lawsuits regarding health or safety warnings. This protection applies if the pesticide label meets specific federal criteria regarding EPA approval or health assessments.²

Changed since by amendment S-3056; see Amendments.

Full bill text³

Senate subcommittee

Named January 30, 2025 (as SSB 1051). On February 5, 2025 it recommended passage.

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

283 written public comments to its subcommittee: February 5, 2025 (283) · on the Legislature’s site

Iowa Code it changes

Amends§668.12

How the Code works⁴

Lobbying

16 for · 20 against · 3 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Tried before

HSB 646Cleared committee90th GA SF 2412Passed a chamber90th GA

Study bill

SSB 1051Renumbered

91st General Assembly

SF 394Passed a chamberfrom SSB 1051

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.

Tried before

This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None became law, though one got through a chamber.

SF 2412 Relating to pesticides, by providing for tort liability
90th General Assembly · Passed Senate · same title
Passed a chamber
HSB 646 HSB 646
90th General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passage · very similar
Cleared committee
SSB 3188 SSB 3188
90th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 2412 · similar
Cleared committee

Matched by wording or an identical title.