DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) – A bill that could have shielded pesticide companies from cancer lawsuits is not likely to become law in Iowa this year.
It would have protected companies like Bayer, the manufacturer of the weed killer Roundup, from lawsuits if the product had a warning label that was in line with federal requirements.
This is a bit of a repeat from last year. Both years it passed out of the Republican-led state senate.
The bill is meeting its fate in the Iowa House, where Speaker Pat Grassley says there isn’t enough Republican support to pass it.
Dozens of Iowans protested the bill at the state capitol this year. Many had lost relatives to cancer.
Speaker Grassley says that his members understand the need for farmers to have access to affordable pesticides like Roundup. But – he says House Republicans don’t plan to bring the bill to the floor for a vote due to lawmakers’ concerns about the public’s perception about the legislation.
“This product has been following all of the EPA approved labeling and so it’s more about a labeling bill and I think some of the narrative that’s been out there maybe distracts from that and I think the caucus just is in a position where they’re not sure they can support it at this point in time,” he said.
Senate President Amy Sinclair says she doesn’t try to tell the House how to do their job, but she disagrees with their decision not to vote on it.
“I suppose the House can be entitled to their wrong opinion. I believe wholeheartedly that the bill we passed doesn’t prevent anybody from seeking justice if they’re damaged by a company. But I also believe that to have a proper system of justice, we have to make sure that individuals or companies can’t be sued for following the law,” she said.
Bayer denies Roundup causes cancer. Though, the company has paid out billions in damages from lawsuits.
The Modern Ag Alliance, an advocacy group founded by Bayer, warns that if farmers lose access to Roundup due to the lawsuits raising costs, farmers could have a harder time growing crops. They warned that could lead to higher grocery prices.
Iowa House Republicans will apparently leave this up to the legal system to decide.
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Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Media-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at conner.hendricks@gray.tv; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV on X/Twitter @ConnerReports, and on TikTok @ConnerReports.
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