Virginia bill to ban toxic herbicide paraquat advanced out of House committee

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A bill that would make Virginia the first state to ban herbicide paraquat advanced out of the House on Wednesday, despite opposition from farmers and agricultural groups.

On Wednesday, Feb. 11, House Bill 1375 advanced out of the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee. The bill previously advanced out of the House subcommittee by a narrow vote of 6-5 a week prior on Wednesday, Feb. 4.

Paraquat is a restricted-use herbicide in Virginia that is highly toxic to humans and other animals, and is mostly used in peanuts, soybeans, tobacco and other crops.

Del. Nadarius Clark (D–Chesapeake), the bill's sponsor, pointed out that significant misinformation spread over the past week or so since the bill was brought to the House subcommittee.

"I know sometimes we have growing pains and we don't like change, but this bill is meant to protect farmers, protect the neighbors and protect those [who] are applying it," Clark said during Wednesday's meeting.

The bill received significant opposition from farmers and agricultural groups last week due to disruption concerns.

He then argued that farmers and agribusiness are being given safer, proven options. On Wednesday, he worked to clear up any misconceptions about the proposed bill.

Clark previously noted that the herbicide, which is connected to Parkin's disease, is already banned for use in at least 70 other countries.

The bill would allow the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to seize any such pesticide containing paraquat on complaint to the circuit court in the area where the pesticide is located.

Opponents such as Del. Jackie Glass (D-Norfolk) argued that continuing to use the product poses national security issues. She shared that they have a serious supply chain and said that since the U.S. is still importing this herbicide from a state-owned company, this supplier can stay in business due to the U.S.

"This raises serious concerns about our reliance on a geopolitical competitor for a critical agricultural input," Glass said.

However, it remains in use due to its high effectiveness as a fast-acting, non-selective herbicide and its role in managing weeds that have developed resistance to other widely used chemicals, such as glyphosate.

The bill -- which was voted to be carried over to 2027 -- would ban sales of the herbicide on July 1, but chemical application would still be allowed until July 1, 2027.