H.739

An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Sponsors: Rep. Esme Cole , Rep. Angela Arsenault, Rep. Daisy Berbeco, Rep. Michelle Bos-Lun, Rep. Lucy Boyden, Rep. Ela Chapin, Rep. Brian Cina, Rep. Zon Eastes, Rep. Emilie Krasnow, Rep. James Masland, Rep. Kate McCann, Rep. Jubilee McGill, Rep. Christopher Morrow, Rep. Michael Mrowicki, Rep. John O'Brien, Rep. Carol Ode, Rep. Monique Priestley, Rep. Chloe Tomlinson

Location: Senate Committee on Agriculture

Last Recorded Action: 3/25/2026 - Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Agriculture

Committee Activity - Meeting Full List

Regular Session 2025-2026

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

11:30 AM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Bill Introduction and Walk Through

Rep. Esme Cole, Amendment Sponsor, House Committee on Human Services
Bradley Showman, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

11:00 AM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Testimony on connection between paraquat and Parkinson's Disease

Zach Hardy, Senior Government Relations Officer, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

Friday, February 13, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

10:30 AM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Testimony from commercial grower

Bill Suhr, Founder & Orchardist, Champlain Orchards

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

2:00 PM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Terrance Bradshaw, Associate Professor, University of Vermont Department of Agriculture, Landscape, and Environment

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

11:15 AM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Testimony of the Agency of Agriculture

Steve Dwinell, Director, Plant Industry Division, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
David Huber, Deputy Director, Plant Industry Division, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

1:00 PM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

David Mortensen, Emeritus Professor, Agroecology, UNH-Durham

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

1:00 PM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

James Boyd, Neurologist

1:30 PM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Bill mark-up

Bradley Showman, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

9:40 AM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Richie Hourihan, Owner and Operator, Cabot Smith Farm

Friday, February 27, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

1:00 PM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Manojit Basu , Vice President of Science Policy, CropLife America

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

4:00 PM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Committee discussion

Bradley Showman, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

2:30 PM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Steve Dwinell, Director, Plant Industry Division, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
David Huber, Deputy Director, Plant Industry Division, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

10:30 AM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Bill mark up

Bradley Showman, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Friday, March 13, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

3:15 PM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Committee vote

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Agriculture

10:00 AM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Agriculture

11:00 AM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Friday, April 3, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Agriculture

9:00 AM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Rep. John O'Brien, Reporter of Bill, House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry
Rep. Gregory "Greg" Burtt, Representative, House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry
Rep. Richard Nelson, Representative, House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry
Charles Gray, Owner, Four Corners Farm
James Boyd, Professor of Neurological Sciences, UVM Medical Center
Heather Darby, Associate Professor, UVM Extension
Steve Dwinell, Director, Plant Industry Division, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
Zach Hardy, Senior Government Relations Officer, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Agriculture

9:00 AM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

David Mortensen, Emeritus Professor, Agroecology, UNH-Durham

Friday, April 10, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Agriculture

9:00 AM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Orchardists

Dan Bair, Owner, Peck Farm Orchards
Lia Diamond, Owner, Southern Vermont Orchards
Laura Marks , Southern Vermont Orchards
Rep. Gregory "Greg" Burtt, Representative, House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Agriculture

10:30 AM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Eugenie Doyle, Last Resort Farm
Bill Suhr, Founder & Orchardist, Champlain Orchards
Scott Faber, Senior Vice President, Environmental Working Group, Georgetown University Law School

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Agriculture

10:15 AM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Friday, April 17, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Agriculture

9:00 AM

H.739 - An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale of the herbicide paraquat

Bradley Showman, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel