An Act amending the act of March 1, 1974 (P.L.90, No.24), known as the Pennsylvania Pesticide Control Act of 1973, providing for prohibited pesticides.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jamie Barton and 14 co-sponsors

HB 2065 would prohibit or tighten restrictions on certain pesticides, especially paraquat, to reduce health and environmental risks in Pennsylvania.

Referred to Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Summary of Bill: HB 2065 (2025-2026) – Pennsylvania Pesticide Control Act amending provisions on prohibited pesticides

1) Primary purpose and intent

HB 2065 proposes amendments to the Pennsylvania Pesticide Control Act of 1973 (act of March 1, 1974, P.L. 90, No. 24).

The bill’s subject matter centers on prohibiting certain pesticides, with an emphasis on reducing risks associated with paraquat exposure, as indicated by the memo accompanying the bill.

Overall aim: strengthen restrictions on specific pesticides to mitigate health and environmental risks, particularly relating to paraquat.

2) Key provisions and changes (as framed by the bill’s title and accompanying materials)

Legislative action focused on designating certain pesticides as prohibited or otherwise restricting their use, possession, sale, or distribution within Pennsylvania.

Special emphasis appears to be placed on paraquat, a widely used herbicide known for acute toxicity and associated health risks; the memo title “Reducing the Risks of Paraquat Exposure” suggests targeted prohibitions or stringent controls on this chemical.

While the full text is not reproduced here, the bill would:

Amend existing pesticide regulation provisions to add or tighten prohibitions.
Establish compliance requirements for distributors, applicators, and users.
Potentially specify penalties or enforcement mechanisms for violations.
Align with broader pesticide governance, potentially overlapping with local control considerations for non-agriculture spraying (as indicated by related memo topics and parallel bills).

3) Who or what would be affected

Pesticide manufacturers, distributors, retailers, applicators, and users in Pennsylvania.

Eligible entities engaged in agricultural and non-agricultural spraying that involve paraquat or other designated prohibited pesticides.

State regulatory bodies responsible for pesticide registration, licensing, and enforcement under the Pennsylvania Pesticide Control Act.

Consumers and the general public, through reduced exposure risk and improved environmental health protections.

4) Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs on December 9, 2025.

Next steps typically involve committee consideration, potential amendments, and floor votes in the House, followed by Senate consideration if passed.

The bill’s progress, including any public hearings or fiscal impact analyses, would be tracked in the legislative record and committee meeting schedules.

5) Context and related considerations

HB 2065 is part of a broader set of bills and amendments related to pesticide regulation and paraquat risk mitigation in Pennsylvania. Related items in the legislative landscape include:

Memo topics referencing paraquat exposure reduction.
Other proposed measures on local control for non-agriculture pesticide spraying and general pesticide prohibitions.

As with any regulatory bill, key practical questions will include:

Which specific pesticides are designated as prohibited and the schedule for phased prohibition.
Exemptions, if any (e.g., essential uses, research, or special permits).
Transition timelines for affected stakeholders.
Enforcement mechanisms and penalties for noncompliance.
Coordination with federal pesticide rules and state environmental health goals.

If you’d like, I can adjust the summary once the bill text is available to pull exact definitions, prohibited substances list, enforcement provisions, penalties, and implementation timelines.