HF3965 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Sale and use of paraquat dichloride prohibited, commissioner required to collect and dispose of paraquat dichloride, and report required.
Related bill: SF4160
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- The bill aims to restrict the use of paraquat dichloride, a toxic pesticide/herbicide, in Minnesota. It would phase out the sale and use of pesticides containing paraquat dichloride and require state action to manage any paraquat still in circulation, along with reporting to legislators.
Key Provisions
- Prohibited sale: Beginning January 1, 2027, no person may sell, offer for sale, or distribute a pesticide containing paraquat dichloride.
- Prohibited use: Beginning January 1, 2028, no person may use a pesticide containing paraquat dichloride.
- Collection and disposal: The commissioner of agriculture must collect and dispose of pesticides prohibited for sale and use, following the rules in section 18B.065.
- Reporting requirement: By January 1, 2028, the commissioner must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over agriculture finance and policy about the use of paraquat dichloride in the state over time and the status of paraquat dichloride in the pesticide supply chain.
- Coding for new law: The bill requests proposing coding for this new law within Minnesota Statutes chapter 18B.
Timeline and Compliance
- 2027: Prohibition on sale/distribution of paraquat dichloride-containing pesticides takes effect.
- 2028: Prohibition on use takes effect; required reporting to legislators is due by January 1, 2028.
- Ongoing: The commissioner must manage collection/disposal of prohibited products under existing pesticide disposal authority (section 18B.065).
Agency Roles
- Commissioner of Agriculture: Enforce sale and use prohibitions, collect and dispose of paraquat dichloride-containing pesticides, and prepare the required report on use and supply chain status.
Significance and Potential Impact
- The bill codifies a phased approach to banning a highly toxic pesticide, moving from sale restrictions to a complete prohibition on use.
- It assigns the Department of Agriculture clear duties to handle disposal of existing products and to inform lawmakers about trends and supply chain implications.
Compliance and Enforcement Considerations
- Enforcement would require monitoring of pesticide sales and use to ensure compliance with the 2027 sale ban and 2028 use ban.
- Disposal procedures would rely on existing disposal frameworks (section 18B.065), raising questions about funding, logistics, and environmental safeguards.
Relevant Terms - paraquat dichloride - pesticide - sale - distribute - use - collection - disposal - commissioner of agriculture - Minnesota Statutes chapter 18B - section 18B.065 - 18B.117 (sale or use provision) - chairs and ranking minority members - agriculture finance and policy - report - pesticide supply chain - January 1, 2027 - January 1, 2028
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Past committee meetings
- Agriculture Finance and Policy on: March 11, 2026 13:00
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 05, 2026 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Agriculture Finance and Policy | |
| March 09, 2026 | House | Action | Author added | ||
| March 12, 2026 | House | Action | Authors added |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Creates 18B.117 with three subdivisions detailing prohibition on sale, prohibition on use, and a collection/disposal obligation.",
"Requires collection and disposal of prohibited pesticides pursuant to 18B.065."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill creates the new Minnesota Statutes section 18B.117 addressing paraquat dichloride in pesticides: prohibits sale of pesticides containing paraquat dichloride (Subdivision 1), prohibits use of such pesticides (Subdivision 2), and requires the commissioner to collect and dispose of prohibited products under section 18B.065 (Subdivision 3). It also requires a report by January 1, 2028 to the chairs and ranking minority members of the relevant agriculture committees on paraquat dichloride use and its status in the pesticide supply chain.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "18B.117",
"subdivision": "Subdivision 1; Subd. 2; Subd. 3"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee