North Carolina Families at Risk as Senate Bill 639 Quietly Adds and Fast Tracks Pesticide Immunity Clause

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THURSDAY MAY 8, 2025

CONTACT: Dr. Alexandra Muñoz

North Carolina Families at Risk as Senate Bill 639 Quietly Adds and Fast Tracks Pesticide Immunity Clause

Section 19 of SB 639 Would Shield Corporations From Accountability for Cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, Infertility, and Harm to Children

RALEIGH, NC — Dr. Alexandra Muñoz, a molecular toxicologist, is warning North Carolinians of a dangerous provision buried inside the state’s 2025 Farm Bill (SB 639). Section 19 of SB 639 — has been referred to the Rules Committee for its final committee hearing in the senate and has yet to be heard in the house.  Section 19 would block North Carolinians from holding pesticide manufacturers legally accountable, even in cases of severe harm or death. The sweeping provision mirrors controversial legislation in other states that has drawn criticism for removing judicial recourse from families harmed by pesticide exposure.

Section 19 was added to SB 639 without mention of the sweeping scope of the provision. Dr. Munoz sent a letter to Judiciary committee prior to its hearing on May 6 clarifying the scope of  Section 19:

“Section 19 applies to far more than glyphosate and Bayer. It applies to ALL 15,000+ chemicals registered with the EPA and in North Carolina,” said Dr. Alexandra Muñoz, a molecular toxicologist with no industry ties.  “This class of chemicals includes chemicals that are proven to cause brain damage, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, infertility, and changes in sexual development.  These chemicals are by no means inert.”

Section 19 legally establishes the presumption that the EPA-approved labels are sufficient, but Dr. Muñoz counters the underlying logic:

“Section 19 assumes the EPA approved labels reflect the science. The reality is that the EPA-approved labels do not reflect the peer-reviewed published scientific data and in numerous cases labels have been approved but do not warn about the actual health risks associated with these products.”

Dr. Muñoz goes on to highlight the serious risk Section 19 could pose to public health in North Carolina:

“From a toxicological perspective, this bill poses a serious risk to North Carolina’s future generations,” said Dr. Alexandra Muñoz. “Given the profound effect these chemicals can have on the reproductive capacity of the next generation, I am deeply concerned about how Section 19 may adversely impact the fertility of future generations.”

Dr. Muñoz offered testimony in the Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday May 6, 2025 again warning members of the committee of her concerns in the brief time slot she was provided.

Dr. Muñoz was in attendance and prepared to offer testimony in the Finance Committee meeting on May 7, 2025, but the chair did not open the meeting for testimony.

North Dakota Governor Becomes the First to Shield Pesticide Companies, Despite Warnings from Molecular Toxicologist

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 30, 2025

North Dakota Governor Becomes the First to Shield Pesticide Companies, Despite Warnings from Molecular Toxicologist

NORTH DAKOTA — On April 24, Governor Kelly Armstrong signed HB 1318 into law, making North Dakota the first state in the nation to shield pesticide companies from certain “failure to warn” liability lawsuits. Dr. Alexandra Muñoz, a molecular toxicologist, sent a letter to Governor Armstrong expressing her grave concerns about the legislation prior to his signature.

Dr. Muñoz wrote in her letter:

“From a toxicological perspective HB 1318 poses a serious risk to the health of North Dakotans. HB 1318 places full trust on the EPA-approved labels to protect the public health and leaves no mechanism for judicial recourse if a person is knowingly harmed by a company's product….Granting this type of protection to such a broad group of chemicals and companies is particularly alarming from a toxicological perspective. This is a class of chemicals with known neurotoxins, carcinogens, and endocrine disruptors.  HB 1318 applies to all 15,000+ chemicals already registered and all future chemicals from ALL companies in this space.”

“The primary assumption in HB 1318 is that the EPA-approved labels accurately reflect the potential health harms of the products, but that is inaccurate. As a toxicologist I would like to correct the record on this point: The EPA-approved labels do not reflect the peer-reviewed published scientific data and in numerous cases labels have been approved but do not warn about the actual health risks associated with these products.”

Governor Armstrong is the first to give in to this type of pesticide company carve out. Legislatures have heard similar proposals in eleven states, accompanied by robust fear campaigns aimed to pressure lawmakers into choosing immunity for pesticide manufacturers over public health and safety. 

North Dakota’s green light comes as Georgia Governor Brian Kemp continues to sit on his state’s version of the bill, potentially providing the deflection needed for him to put pen to paper against the wishes of disgruntled citizens. Meanwhile, Tennessee legislators are biding their time and postponed similar legislation as several lawmakers question the constitutionality of the bill. 

Click here to read the full letter.

Pesticide Manufacturers Putting Americans at Risk with Dangerous Immunity Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 4, 2025

Pesticide Manufacturers Putting Americans at Risk with Dangerous Immunity Bill

 Molecular Toxicologist Advocates Against Pesticide Labeling Bill in Tennessee Legislature 

NASHVILLE — On Wednesday, Dr. Alexandra Muñoz testified before the Tennessee House Judiciary Committee regarding HB809. Dr. Muñoz, a molecular toxicologist who specializes in understanding how toxins cause cancer at the cellular level, spoke in opposition to Tennessee’s pest control bill that would shield pesticide manufacturers and sellers from failure-to-warn liability claims related to the labeling of a product.

“First, I want to make clear that the labels on many pesticides do not reflect the published, peer-reviewed scientific data,” said Dr. Alexandra Muñoz. “Bayer/Monsanto has consistently manipulated the system and knowingly submitted data to the EPA that doesn't reflect the actual health harms of their products.”

Robust campaigns in support of similar legislation have cropped up across the country. The coordinated effort to protect pesticide companies against lawsuits compelled Dr. Muñoz to independently research the molecular mechanisms of glyphosate-based herbicides. 

“There's emerging evidence…that glyphosate-based herbicides are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that do impact fertility and that are changing the sexual development of girls,” said Dr. Alexandra Muñoz. “That is the risk of these chemicals, and they are aware of the class of chemicals that they're working with.”

Given that HB809 applies to all registered pesticide products that obtain a label approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Muñoz was struck by the unintended consequences such legislation may have in the future.

When answering questions from committee members, Dr. Muñoz further explained how pesticides and herbicides have toxic impacts that produce cancer, can be neurotoxins, and can be endocrine disrupting chemicals that alter the hormonal balance and sexual development of males and females. “From a toxicological perspective, it's very clear why they would want immunity,” said Dr. Alexandra Muñoz.

During her testimony, Dr. Muñoz also outlined a chilling hypothetical where a company structures its safety studies in a way that intentionally disguises the adverse effects of a chemical product. “Companies will feel confident putting this product on the market knowing that they can get away with this harm,” explained Dr. Alexandra Muñoz. “And if this company happens to be controlled by a foreign adversary, then it means that by allowing this bill, you would be sanctioning an act of bioterrorism…. I ask you to vote no on this dangerous piece of legislation.”

Next week, the Tennessee House Judiciary Committee is holding two meetings and will hear the remaining testimony on HB809. Tennessee’s pesticide bill has already passed its third and final reading in the senate, leaving the fate of this legislation up to the house.

Dr. Alexandra Muñoz will be present during next week's proceedings and is available for interviews and press inquiries.

House Judiciary Committee Schedule:

Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. CST in House Hearing Room I