Why It Matters
The House removed language from pending farm legislation that would have prevented states from regulating pesticides and herbicides beyond federal standards. The provision would have shielded manufacturers from state-level lawsuits over product safety claims. New Jersey lawmakers backed the change, which affects companies including Bayer, whose U.S. headquarters are in Morristown and Whippany.
What Happened
House members voted 280-142 last week to adopt an amendment stripping pesticide liability protections from the farm bill. The amendment, authored by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), removed sections that would have barred states from passing their own pesticide regulations and limited manufacturer liability in state courts.
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) said during floor debate that the original language would have given companies like Bayer the legal immunity they have sought through extensive lobbying. All New Jersey representatives except Rep. Tom Kean (R-7th), who has been absent from Congress due to an undisclosed health issue, voted for the amendment.
The farm bill must still clear the Senate before reaching the president’s desk.
By The Numbers
Bayer spent $9.19 million on federal lobbying in 2025, a 9% increase from the previous year. The company donated $1 million to President Trump’s January inauguration. Bayer reached a $7.25 billion settlement in February to resolve lawsuits alleging its Roundup weedkiller causes non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The company faces tens of thousands of legal claims inherited from its 2018 acquisition of Monsanto, the original maker of Roundup. The herbicide’s active ingredient, glyphosate, was classified in 2015 by World Health Organization researchers as “probably carcinogenic to humans.”
Zoom Out
The liability protection debate centers on whether federal pesticide law preempts state authority to regulate product labeling and safety claims. Bayer has argued that the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act prevents states from imposing labeling requirements beyond federal standards.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in April on whether federal pesticide regulations shield manufacturers from state tort liability. A ruling in Bayer’s favor could eliminate billions of dollars in potential legal exposure. The Justice Department argued on the company’s side during those proceedings.
President Trump signed an executive order in February directing agencies to increase domestic glyphosate production. The Environmental Protection Agency maintains that glyphosate products are safe, though the chemical has been phased out of most residential formulations.
What’s Next
The farm bill moves to the Senate, where the pesticide liability language could be reintroduced during committee consideration or floor debate. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on federal preemption of state pesticide lawsuits before the end of its current term.
A Bayer spokeswoman said the amendment’s passage could create regulatory uncertainty and a patchwork of state rules. The company maintains that manufacturers should not face state penalties for complying with federal labeling requirements.