Vermont became the first state to ban paraquat, a herbicide linked to Parkinson's disease and other serious health problems. Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, signed the legislation after the state Legislature passed it with bipartisan support.
Paraquat ranks among the most toxic herbicides used in the United States. The Environmental Working Group, an environmental advocacy organization, praised the move as protection for all Vermonters, including farmers and children who face exposure risks.
The ban reflects growing scientific concern about the pesticide's health effects. Research has connected paraquat exposure to Parkinson's disease, a degenerative neurological condition. Agricultural workers and rural communities face the highest exposure risks from the chemical, which has been restricted or banned in numerous countries but remains legal at the federal level in the U.S.
Scott's signature on the bill signals Republican willingness to act on environmental health issues, even as the party often resists federal environmental regulations. The bipartisan legislative support underscores how paraquat's health risks transcend traditional partisan divides in Vermont.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency has faced pressure from health advocates and scientists to ban paraquat nationally. California attempted to restrict the pesticide but faced legal challenges. Vermont's action as the first outright state ban could pressure the EPA to reconsider its approval of the chemical and may encourage other states to follow suit.
The law takes effect after the Legislature passes it and the governor's signature, though implementation timelines for farmers transitioning to alternative herbicides have not been specified in available reporting. Vermont's move positions the state as a leader on pesticide safety and may accelerate national momentum toward a federal ban.