Pennsylvania House Bill HB1135

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/21/25
• Refer: 4/21/25

Caption

Providing for prohibited pesticides.

Summary

HB1135 would amend Pennsylvania’s Pesticide Control Act of 1973 to prohibit the use, or causing the use, of paraquat as a pesticide anywhere in the Commonwealth. The bill defines paraquat by Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) number and expressly includes related salts such as methyl viologen and paraquat bismethylsulfate, making the prohibition broad enough to cover the chemical and specified variants. The measure also states that any regulations inconsistent with the new prohibition are abrogated, and it would take effect one year after enactment. In practical terms, the bill would remove paraquat from lawful pesticide use in Pennsylvania and affect pesticide applicators, dealers, agricultural users, and any other parties involved in the application of that herbicide.

Impact

HB1135 would add a new section to the Pennsylvania Pesticide Control Act of 1973 creating a statewide ban on paraquat use as a pesticide. It would supersede conflicting regulations and require affected users and businesses to stop using the chemical within one year of enactment, potentially affecting agricultural spraying practices, pest management operations, and pesticide compliance enforcement by state regulators.

Sentiment

No committee transcript or vote history is provided, so there is no recorded debate or roll-call sentiment to assess. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to reflect a precautionary regulatory approach focused on restricting a specific pesticide rather than a broader overhaul of pesticide law.

Contention

The central point of contention likely concerns the policy choice to ban paraquat outright. Supporters would likely emphasize health, safety, and environmental concerns associated with the chemical, while opponents may argue that paraquat is a useful agricultural tool and that a total prohibition could burden farmers and pest management professionals. Because no discussion or votes are included, no specific legislators or stakeholder groups are identified in the record provided.