People Over Poison Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9528
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-29: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-07T17:36:43Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 9528 (People Over Poison Act)
Purpose This bill amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to ensure that state tort law claims involving the labeling or packaging of pesticides or devices remain available to individuals harmed by those products.
Key Provisions
- Adds new language to Section 24(b) of FIFRA (7 U.S.C. 136v(b)).
- States that the existing federal preemption rule in that section shall not be interpreted to block or restrict tort claims under any state’s law that relate to pesticide or device labeling or packaging.
- The change applies specifically to civil lawsuits seeking damages or other remedies under state tort rules.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- FIFRA currently limits states from imposing additional requirements on pesticide labeling that differ from federal rules.
- The amendment clarifies that this limitation does not extend to private tort claims, allowing state courts to consider such claims without federal preemption blocking them.
Potential Impacts
- On citizens: Increases options for individuals to pursue compensation through state courts for injuries allegedly caused by inadequate pesticide labeling.
- On government agencies: May shift some enforcement or dispute resolution from federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency to state judicial systems.
- On manufacturers: Could raise legal exposure for pesticide and device companies by permitting more state-level lawsuits.
- On international relations: No direct effects identified in the bill text.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Pesticide and device manufacturers and distributors.
- Farmers, agricultural workers, and consumers who use or are exposed to these products.
- State courts and attorneys handling tort cases.
- Federal agencies responsible for pesticide regulation.
- Agricultural and environmental advocacy groups.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Addresses federal preemption under the Supremacy Clause by limiting how broadly FIFRA’s labeling rules can block state tort actions.
- Does not create new federal causes of action or alter product approval processes; it focuses solely on preserving existing state court remedies.
- The bill title and sponsors suggest an emphasis on prioritizing individual claims over industry protections in labeling disputes.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-29: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2026-06-29: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-29: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- People Over Poison Act — issued 2026-06-29 — PDF (2 pages)