Even though the Iowa Legislature was scheduled to adjourn last week, work at the Capitol is far from over. Lawmakers remain locked in negotiations over unresolved budget issues, keeping the session alive past its intended deadline. Amid the ongoing debates, the Modern Ag Alliance is holding out hope for a last-minute breakthrough. They’re pushing for a bill that’s been stalled without movement since early April, hoping it can still make it to the governor’s desk before time runs out.
Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, Executive Director of the Modern Ag Alliance, says they’re still hoping Senate File 394 sees action before the session ends. The pesticide liability bill has been idle since early April. But Burns-Thompson says it remains a key priority to protect from lawsuits tied to federally approved pesticide use.
Burns Thompson says that this has nothing to do with relaxing safe use of the products in question and is about subjugation to repeated legal action over products that have been approved by the EPA and have met all the agency’s requirements. North Dakota and Georgia have already passed similar laws.
While the bill was stalled after the House referred it to the Judiciary Committee on April 3rd, Modern Ag Alliance is hopeful that, as long as the legislature remains in session, there is still hope.
Burns-Thompson adds that the bill not only has the support of many Ag organizations, but it also has the support of key members of the state’s leadership.
She urges concerned constituents to reach out, even at the 11th hour, to their local lawmakers and make their voices heard.
