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• Special Action—Failure to Warn: Help Stop Tennessee Bill To Protect Chemical Companies from Lawsuits [Inactive]

Help stop legislation in Tennessee (HB 809/SB 527) that will shield pesticide manufacturers from being sued by people who have been harmed by their products. Beyond Pesticides is a national, grassroots organization that represents community-based organizations and a range of people seeking to improve protections from pesticides and promote alternative pest management strategies that reduce or eliminate reliance on toxic pesticides.

HB 809 passed out of the Agricultural and Natural Resources Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee on March 12. HB 809 passed out of the Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee on March 18. The bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee, with a public hearing scheduled on Wednesday, April 9 at 11 am CT. [Video]. Update—HB 809 was defeated after the House Judiciary Committee deferred any further action until 2026 since Tennessee operates in a two-year legislative session. 

SB 527 was passed out of the Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee on March 12 and the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 24 [6-2-1]. The bill passed the Senate on April 3 [21-7-2] as amended, SA 204.

If this bill were to pass, it would strike a blow to consumer safety for all toxic products. In a climate with less regulation, the ability to sue creates an incentive for manufacturers to develop safer products that protect our health and the environment—not to mention the compensation it provides to those harmed.

Failure-to-warn claims serve as the basis for the overwhelming majority of pesticide injury litigation of the past decade, according to legal professionals, including Brigit Rollins, JD, staff attorney at National Agriculture Law Center. Failure-to-warn is a legal argument grounded in the common law of state court systems across the nation. “Almost every pesticide injury lawsuit filed in the past ten years has included a claim that the pesticide manufacturer failed to warn the plaintiff of the health risks associated with using their product and that such failure caused the plaintiff's injury,” says Ms. Rollins.

Petrochemical-based pesticide manufacturers, predominately German-owned Bayer-Monsanto, are expanding their all-out push from last year when bills were introduced in Missouri, Iowa, and Idaho. We mobilized last year with little warning, and we were able to defeat these bills. Currently, bills have been introduced in eleven states and defeated in seven. The focus of these bills is to protect chemical corporations, not people. 

>> Please ask your state Representative and Senator to OPPOSE HB 809/SB 527 by clicking here. [Inactive] 

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For more information, see our Myths & Facts and Tennessee resource page, as well as the Failure-to-Warn and Pesticide Immunity Bills resource hub.

Letter to the Tennessee Senate [Original Text from April 7, 2025]

I am writing to ask you to oppose SB 527, a bill that will shield pesticide manufacturers from being sued by people who have been harmed by their products. The chemical companies have argued unsuccessfully all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court that they should not be required to warn consumers about the dangers of their products. So now they are asking the Tennessee legislature to do what they have not been able to do in the courts—prevent people harmed by toxic products from suing them.

SB 527 was passed out of the Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee on March 12 and the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 24 [6-2-1]. The bill passed the Senate on April 3 [21-7-2] as amended, SA 204.

If this bill were to pass, it would strike a blow to consumer and farmer safety for all toxic products. In a climate with less regulation, the ability to sue creates an incentive for manufacturers to develop safer products that protect those who use potentially hazardous materials, public safety, and the health of the environment—not to mention the compensation it provides to those harmed.

Failure-to-warn claims serve as the basis for the overwhelming majority of pesticide injury litigation of the past decade, according to legal professionals, including Brigit Rollins, JD, staff attorney at the National Agriculture Law Center. "Failure-to-warn" is a legal argument grounded in the common law of state court systems across the nation. “Almost every pesticide injury lawsuit filed in the past ten years has included a claim that the pesticide manufacturer failed to warn the plaintiff of the health risks associated with using their product and that such failure caused the plaintiff’s injury,” says Ms. Rollins. For more information, see the Myths & Facts sheet (bp-dc.org/failure-to-warn-myths-and-facts-sheet) and Tennessee state resource page. (https://www.beyondpesticides.org/resources/failure-to-warn/bills-to-track/midwest-target-states)

Petrochemical-based pesticide manufacturers, predominately German-owned Bayer-Monsanto, are expanding their all-out push from last year to at least eleven states and defeated in three. The focus of these bills is to protect chemical corporations, not people.

Please oppose SB 527 and ensure that those who are harmed by toxic products are compensated.

Thank you!

Letter to the Tennessee House [Original Text from April 7, 2025]

I am writing to ask you to oppose HB 809, a bill that will shield pesticide manufacturers from being sued by people who have been harmed by their products. The chemical companies have argued unsuccessfully all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court that they should not be required to warn consumers about the dangers of their products. So now they are asking the Tennessee legislature to do what they have not been able to do in the courts—prevent people harmed by toxic products from suing them.

HB 809 passed out of the Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee on March 18 and is up in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, April 9 at 11 am CT.

If this bill were to pass, it would strike a blow to consumer and farmer safety for all toxic products. In a climate with less regulation, the ability to sue creates an incentive for manufacturers to develop safer products that protect those who use potentially hazardous materials, public safety, and the health of the environment—not to mention the compensation it provides to those harmed.

Failure-to-warn claims serve as the basis for the overwhelming majority of pesticide injury litigation of the past decade, according to legal professionals, including Brigit Rollins, JD, staff attorney at National Agriculture Law Center. "Failure-to-warn" is a legal argument grounded in the common law of state court systems across the nation. “Almost every pesticide injury lawsuit filed in the past ten years has included a claim that the pesticide manufacturer failed to warn the plaintiff of the health risks associated with using their product and that such failure caused the plaintiff’s injury,” says Ms. Rollins. For more information, see the Myths & Facts sheet (bp-dc.org/failure-to-warn-myths-and-facts-sheet) and Tennessee state resource page. (https://www.beyondpesticides.org/resources/failure-to-warn/bills-to-track/midwest-target-states)

Petrochemical-based pesticide manufacturers, predominately German-owned Bayer-Monsanto, are expanding their all-out push from last year to at least eleven states and defeated in seven. The focus of these bills is to protect chemical corporations, not people.

Please oppose HB 809 and ensure that those who are harmed by toxic products are compensated.

Thank you!

Letter to the Tennessee Senate [Original Text from March 13, 2025]

I am writing to ask you to oppose SB 527, a bill that will shield pesticide manufacturers from being sued by people who have been harmed by their products. The chemical companies have argued unsuccessfully all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court that they should not be required to warn consumers about the dangers of their products. So now they are asking the Tennessee legislature to do what they have not been able to do in the courts—prevent people harmed by toxic products from suing them.

SB 527 was passed out of the Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee on March 12. The bill is expected to be placed on the Senate calendar for a floor debate and vote at a moment’s notice.

If this bill were to pass, it would strike a blow to consumer and farmer safety for all toxic products. In a climate with less regulation, the ability to sue creates an incentive for manufacturers to develop safer products that protect those who use potentially hazardous materials, public safety, and the health of the environment—not to mention the compensation it provides to those harmed.

Failure-to-warn claims serve as the basis for the overwhelming majority of pesticide injury litigation of the past decade, according to legal professionals, including Brigit Rollins, JD, staff attorney at the National Agriculture Law Center. "Failure-to-warn" is a legal argument grounded in the common law of state court systems across the nation. “Almost every pesticide injury lawsuit filed in the past ten years has included a claim that the pesticide manufacturer failed to warn the plaintiff of the health risks associated with using their product and that such failure caused the plaintiff’s injury,” says Ms. Rollins. For more information, see the Myths & Facts sheet (bp-dc.org/failure-to-warn-myths-and-facts-sheet) and Tennessee state resource page. (https://www.beyondpesticides.org/resources/failure-to-warn/bills-to-track/midwest-target-states)

Petrochemical-based pesticide manufacturers, predominately German-owned Bayer-Monsanto, are expanding their all-out push from last year to at least eleven states and defeated in three. The focus of these bills is to protect chemical corporations, not people.

Please oppose SB 527 and ensure that those who are harmed by toxic products are compensated.

Thank you!

Letter to the Tennessee House [Original Text from March 13, 2025]

I am writing to ask you to oppose HB 809, a bill that will shield pesticide manufacturers from being sued by people who have been harmed by their products. The chemical companies have argued unsuccessfully all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court that they should not be required to warn consumers about the dangers of their products. So now they are asking the Tennessee legislature to do what they have not been able to do in the courts—prevent people harmed by toxic products from suing them.

HB 809 passed out of the Agricultural and Natural Resources Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee on March 12. There is a public hearing scheduled on Tuesday, March 18 at 9am CST in the Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee.

If this bill were to pass, it would strike a blow to consumer and farmer safety for all toxic products. In a climate with less regulation, the ability to sue creates an incentive for manufacturers to develop safer products that protect those who use potentially hazardous materials, public safety, and the health of the environment—not to mention the compensation it provides to those harmed.

Failure-to-warn claims serve as the basis for the overwhelming majority of pesticide injury litigation of the past decade, according to legal professionals, including Brigit Rollins, JD, staff attorney at National Agriculture Law Center. "Failure-to-warn" is a legal argument grounded in the common law of state court systems across the nation. “Almost every pesticide injury lawsuit filed in the past ten years has included a claim that the pesticide manufacturer failed to warn the plaintiff of the health risks associated with using their product and that such failure caused the plaintiff’s injury,” says Ms. Rollins. For more information, see the Myths & Facts sheet (bp-dc.org/failure-to-warn-myths-and-facts-sheet) and Tennessee state resource page. (https://www.beyondpesticides.org/resources/failure-to-warn/bills-to-track/midwest-target-states)

Petrochemical-based pesticide manufacturers, predominately German-owned Bayer-Monsanto, are expanding their all-out push from last year to at least eleven states and defeated in seven. The focus of these bills is to protect chemical corporations, not people.

Please oppose HB 809 and ensure that those who are harmed by toxic products are compensated.

Thank you!

Letter to the Tennessee Senate [Original Text from February 3, 2025]

I am writing to ask you to oppose SB 527, a bill that will shield pesticide manufacturers from being sued by people who have been harmed by their products. The chemical companies have argued unsuccessfully all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court that they should not be required to warn consumers about the dangers of their products. So now they are asking the Tennessee legislature to do what they have not been able to do in the courts—prevent people harmed by toxic products from suing them.

As you may know, SB 527 was filed in the Senate on January 30.

If this bill were to pass, it would strike a blow to consumer and farmer safety for all toxic products. In a climate where there is less regulation, the ability to sue creates an incentive for manufacturers to develop safer products that protect those who use potentially hazardous materials, public safety, and the health of the environment—not to mention the compensation it provides to those harmed.

Failure-to-warn claims serve as the basis for the overwhelming majority of pesticide injury litigation of the past decade, according to legal professionals, including Brigit Rollins, JD, staff attorney at the National Agriculture Law Center. Failure-to-warn is a legal argument grounded in the common law of state court systems across the nation. “Almost every pesticide injury lawsuit filed in the past ten years has included a claim that the pesticide manufacturer failed to warn the plaintiff of the health risks associated with using their product and that such failure caused the plaintiff’s injury,” says Ms. Rollins. For more information, see the Myths & Facts sheet (bp-dc.org/failure-to-warn-myths-and-facts-sheet) and Tennessee state resource page. (https://www.beyondpesticides.org/resources/failure-to-warn/bills-to-track/midwest-target-states)

Petrochemical-based pesticide manufacturers, predominately German-owned Bayer-Monsanto, are expanding their all-out push from last year to at least seven states. The focus of these bills is to protect chemical corporations, not people.

Please oppose SB 257 and ensure that those who are harmed by toxic products are compensated.

Thank you!

Letter to the Tennessee House [Original Text from February 3, 2025]

I am writing to ask you to oppose HB 809, a bill that will shield pesticide manufacturers from being sued by people who have been harmed by their products. The chemical companies have argued unsuccessfully all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court that they should not be required to warn consumers about the dangers of their products. So now they are asking the Tennessee legislature to do what they have not been able to do in the courts—prevent people harmed by toxic products from suing them.

As you may know, HB 809 was filed in the Senate on January 30.

If this bill were to pass, it would strike a blow to consumer and farmer safety for all toxic products. In a climate where there is less regulation, the ability to sue creates an incentive for manufacturers to develop safer products that protect those who use potentially hazardous materials, public safety, and the health of the environment—not to mention the compensation it provides to those harmed.

Failure-to-warn claims serve as the basis for the overwhelming majority of pesticide injury litigation of the past decade, according to legal professionals, including Brigit Rollins, JD, staff attorney at the National Agriculture Law Center. Failure-to-warn is a legal argument grounded in the common law of state court systems across the nation. “Almost every pesticide injury lawsuit filed in the past ten years has included a claim that the pesticide manufacturer failed to warn the plaintiff of the health risks associated with using their product and that such failure caused the plaintiff’s injury,” says Ms. Rollins. For more information, see the Myths & Facts sheet (bp-dc.org/failure-to-warn-myths-and-facts-sheet) and Tennessee state resource page. (https://www.beyondpesticides.org/resources/failure-to-warn/bills-to-track/midwest-target-states)

Petrochemical-based pesticide manufacturers, predominately German-owned Bayer-Monsanto, are expanding their all-out push from last year to at least seven states. The focus of these bills is to protect chemical corporations, not people.

Please oppose HB 809 and ensure that those who are harmed by toxic products are compensated.

Thank you!