The Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee on April 10 voted to adopt Amendment 1,006 to House Bill 1318 and then approved the bill as amended on a do-pass motion.

The vote followed a short procedural motion to rescind an earlier committee action and debate in which members and the chair described the bill as part of a broader national discussion about pesticide regulation. Chairman Lewick said the amendment narrows the bill to “the section of code that is pertaining to the pesticides registered with the Ag Commissioner” and adds clearer language on warnings and labeling.

The amendment was described by Senator Bridal as a compromise meant to “tighten it down” and to address concerns from both the agricultural community and public-health advocates. Bridal moved adoption of Amendment 1,006 and later moved a do-pass recommendation for House Bill 1318 as amended.

Chairman Lewick framed the issue as both statewide and national, saying states are responding while an effort at the national level is underway to set a floor for related legislation. He noted that national groups such as the National Conference of State Legislatures have discussed model approaches and that one manufacturer has sought a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on related matters. Lewick also said lawmakers had considered adding a temporary sunset to the state measure while national standards develop.

Committee members asked whether the amendment would significantly weaken the bill’s original intent; both Lewick and Senator Weber said the amendment limits the bill’s scope to pesticides registered by the state Agriculture Commissioner and adjusts warning-language requirements rather than removing core protections. Senator Weber said that, if the agricultural community is behind the amendment, he had “no problem” moving it forward.

Procedurally, the committee first voted to rescind its previous action on HB1318; that motion passed. Senators Bridal and Weston then moved and seconded adoption of Amendment 1,006; the amendment passed on a roll-call vote. A subsequent motion to move the bill to the floor without a committee recommendation failed for lack of a second. The committee then voted to recommend HB1318 as amended (“do pass”); the roll-call for that motion recorded two no votes and a majority in favor, and the bill was carried by the committee’s sponsor for floor consideration.

The committee’s discussion emphasized balancing farm needs for pesticides used in crop production with consumer and worker health concerns. Members noted this is an issue in other states and that future national developments could affect state law. The committee chair said he would carry the bill to the next legislative stage.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 1318 (as amended by Amendment 1,006) — Amendment 1,006 adopted; Committee recommendation: Do pass (passed by majority).