Bad Bill ALERT!

SB199 was filed on 2/13 by Senator Jason Howell and Senator Craig Richardson: “An Act Related to Pesticide Labeling.” Pesticides in this case is an umbrella term encompassing thousands of products.

A coordinated national effort is being led by Bayer and the pesticide industry to strongly support legislation to shield pesticide companies from civil liability. Bayer's front group, Modern Ag Alliance, is already lobbying in Kentucky. Bills like SB199 directly threaten public health, environmental safety, and fundamental constitutional rights in direct contradiction with Section 7 of the Kentucky Constitution. 

Shielding any manufacturer from liability from harms would never fly for car seats, dressers, or even coffee served at 190℉, so why should pesticide/fungicide/rodenticide/herbicide manufacturers be any different?!?

You can read the bill in its entirety here, then take steps to let your legislators know you oppose this bill.

SB199 has passed out of the Senate and is now in the House.

Click Here to find your representative and their email address.

If you receive a response from your representative, please send it to us at info@kmfc.org.

This bill is in the Senate, so the current focus is on contacting Kentucky State Senators.

Here is an example, but please MAKE THE WORDING YOUR OWN. Kentucky legislators have a strong dislike of form emails and often delete them outright without reading.

Some Suggestions for Subject Lines:

Subject: OPPOSE SB199

Subject: (Constituent Email) VOTE NO SB199

Subject: SB199 is a bad bill!

Dear Representative (LAST NAME),

I’m a constituent of yours in (LOCATION) and I wanted to make you aware that I am strongly opposed to SB199. This bill is not about protecting farmers. SB199 would apply broadly to over 57,000 products that are registered with the EPA including common products such as kitchen disinfectants, mouse poison, flea and tick collars, wasp spray, lawn and garden herbicides, swimming pool chlorine, and much more.  Under this bill, individuals harmed when the manufacturer hides known harms would have no recourse. SB199 gives manufacturers permission to lie.

Please vote no on SB199 and do not give pesticide manufacturers a shield from liability.

Best,

(YOUR NAME)

(YOUR HOME ADDRESS)

Call the legislative message line 800-372-7181.

Ask to leave a message for all representatives. The operator will ask for your name and mailing address if this is your first time calling.

Leave the following message: "Vote no on SB199 regarding pesticide labeling. Manufacturers do not need a liability shield in Kentucky. This is not a bill about farming."