The House of Representatives voted 280-142 on Thursday to strip several controversial pesticide provisions from the upcoming farm bill. The decision to remove the language marks a significant shift for the legislation, which serves as the primary roadmap for U.S. agriculture policy over the next five years.
The push to change the bill was led by Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) and Eli Crane (R-Ariz.). Their amendment targeted measures that would have protected pesticide manufacturers from lawsuits by preventing states and local courts from penalizing companies for missing health warnings on their labels—specifically warnings for risks not formally recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Before the vote, the policies had sparked sharp internal GOP disagreement and pushback from Democrats.
The provisions also would have barred local governments from enacting pesticide rules stricter than state or federal law and removed certain permit requirements. Rep. Luna had previously signaled the intensity of the standoff, posting on X that her coalition would “slaughter the farm bill” if these sections remained.
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House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) defended the original language, stating that the intent was to create a streamlined federal standard where states could submit specific ecological concerns to the EPA to be included in general labeling.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit advocacy organization, praised the House’s move to adopt the Luna amendment. EWG Legislative Director Geoff Horsfield issued a statement supporting the decision to scrap what he called a “sweeping immunity” for chemical companies.
“By striking provisions that would have shielded pesticide manufacturers from accountability and undermined state and local protections, the House has taken an important step to safeguard public health,” Horsfield said. He added that preserving the authority of states to adopt stronger warnings is vital for protecting farmworkers and children from exposure to harmful chemicals.
At the same time, agricultural industry leaders emphasized the importance of the overall farm bill moving forward. Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins called the House passage a “major milestone” for a sector struggling with rising costs and outdated economic policies.
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“A modern, updated Farm Bill is long overdue, and today’s vote comes at a critical moment for America’s farmers and ranchers,” Hawkins said. He noted that the bill strengthens essential risk management tools and conservation programs that the food supply chain relies on.
The debate occurs as the Supreme Court considers a similar case this week, which may determine whether federal law already limits the ability of citizens to file “failure-to-warn” lawsuits against manufacturers. The farm bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
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