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HB1375 • 2026

Pesticides; manufacture, distribution, use, or sale of paraquat prohibited.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend and reenact § 3.2-3939 of the Code of Virginia, relating to pesticides; manufacture, distribution, use, or sale of paraquat prohibited.</p>

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Clark
Last action
2026-02-18
Official status
Continued
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms or penalties, leaving these aspects unclear.

Ban on Paraquat Pesticide

This law stops people from making, selling, using, or buying pesticides that have paraquat as an ingredient.

What This Bill Does

  • Bans the manufacturing of any pesticide with paraquat in it.
  • Stops anyone from distributing, selling, or offering to sell pesticides containing paraquat after July 1, 2027.
  • Prohibits using pesticides that have paraquat as an ingredient starting July 1, 2028.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who make or sell pesticides
  • Farmers and gardeners who use pesticides

Terms To Know

Paraquat
A type of pesticide that can be harmful to people.
Active ingredient
The part of a pesticide that kills pests or weeds.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not affect the sale of existing inventory before July 1, 2027.
  • It is unclear how this law will be enforced and what penalties there are for breaking it.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB1375AHC1

2026-02-04

Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Amendment

Plain English: The amendment adds new restrictions to the bill that prohibit the sale and distribution of paraquat at retail starting from July 1, 2026, and its use starting from July 1, 2027.

  • Adds a prohibition on selling or distributing paraquat at retail after July 1, 2026.
  • Prohibits the application or use of paraquat after July 1, 2027.
  • Allows retailers to sell existing inventory of paraquat until it runs out.
  • The amendment text does not specify what happens if someone violates these new restrictions.
HB1375AHC2

2026-02-05 • Committee

Natural Resources Subcommittee Amendment

Plain English: The amendment adds new restrictions to the use and sale of paraquat, a type of pesticide.

  • Bans the retail sale or distribution of paraquat starting from July 1, 2027.
  • Prohibits the application or use of paraquat starting from July 1, 2028.
  • Allows retailers to sell existing inventory of paraquat until it runs out.
  • The amendment does not specify what happens after July 1, 2026 for the sale and distribution of paraquat.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-18 House

    Left in Committee Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources

  2. 2026-02-18 House

    Left in Committee Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources

  3. 2026-02-11 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    Continued to 2027 in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N)

  4. 2026-02-04 Natural Resources

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 4-N)

  5. 2026-02-04 Natural Resources

    House subcommittee offered

  6. 2026-01-27 Natural Resources

    Assigned HACNR sub: Natural Resources

  7. 2026-01-26 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1375)

  8. 2026-01-21 House

    Presented and ordered printed 26105527D

  9. 2026-01-21 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

Pesticides; manufacture, distribution, use, or sale of paraquat prohibited.
Prohibits any person from manufacturing, distributing, using, or selling any pesticide containing paraquat, defined in the bill, as an active ingredient. The bill allows 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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB 1375

SUBCOMMITTEE

1. Line 37, introduced, after
ingredient.

strike

the remainder of line 37 and through
3.2-3945
.
on line 38

insert

No person shall (i) sell or distribute at retail or offer for retail sale or distribution any such pesticide on or after July 1, 2027, or (ii) apply or use any such pesticide on or after July 1, 2028. Nothing in this subdivision shall restrict the continued sale of such pesticide by a retailer of any existing inventory in stock on July 1, 2026.