HB 129 was approved by the state House of Representatives’ Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee on April 3.
HB 129 is already intended to be added to the already widespread statute of the Florida Pesticide Act, prohibiting pesticide-related liability lawsuits “because they did not warn if the pesticide label meets certain conditions.”
These conditions include if the label is approved by the EPA, which corresponds to the recently conducted human health risk assessment and the carcinogenicity classification of EPA under the federal insecticide, fungicide, and rodent suicide laws.
However, HB 129 does not protect pesticide manufacturers from liability for pesticides that the EPA knowingly withholds, hides, misrepresents, or destroys pesticide pesticides “material information regarding human health risks or carcinogenicity” of pesticides.
The EPA summarizes federal insecticides, fungicides, and rodent suicide. It serves as “federal law governing the registration, distribution, sales and use of pesticides in the United States.” It includes a definition of when a pesticide label was incorrectly branded.
HB 129 was approved by the state House of Representatives’ Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee on April 3, and was introduced to the Housing, Agriculture and Tourism Subcommittee and Judicial Committee on April 4.
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If the subcommittee and state representatives of the committee approve the bill, they will be moved to the House floor for a vote.
The bill was co-hosted by state legislators whose district covers parts of Citrus and Marion counties, and state legislators who cover parts of Charlotte and Sarasota counties. Both men are Republicans.
The Epoch Times reached into both Grow and Knicks’ offices for comment.
Separately, a similar bill on the same topic, SB 992, was introduced in the state Senate by State Senator Jay Collins of Hillsboro County.
These exceptions include when the mentioned subject controls aspects of labeling, design, testing, or manufacturing of the product that caused the suspected harm. Modify or modify the product in a way that has been found to be an important factor causing a suspected harm. Alternatively, apply the product in a way that contradicts the label and causes suspicion of harm.
The bill also appears to provide special protection for Floridians. The final exception states that a product liability lawsuit can be pursued if the manufacturer of the product causing the harm is not subject to jurisdiction in this state.
He was featured in the Senate Judiciary, Agriculture and Rules Committee on February 28th, and in the Senate on March 4th. No further action has been taken against SB 992 since then.
Collins was not available for immediate comment.
If one or both bills are passed and signed by the governor, they will come into effect on July 1, 2025.
