North Carolina Bill: SB 639

Bill Summary

North Carolina Senate Bill 639, the North Carolina Farm Act of 2025, is an omnibus bill that makes various updates and changes to the state's agricultural, environmental, and related laws. It addresses topics including agricultural water resource planning, increased penalties for crop theft and aquaculture violations, feral swine control efforts, land use permitting near farms, school absences for livestock and equestrian events, wastewater and composting regulations, and other technical adjustments to support the agricultural sector. The bill passed the Senate on June 17, 2025, by a 31-14 vote. During House consideration, the controversial pesticide liability shield provision (Section 19 in the Senate version)—which would have created a presumption that EPA-approved labels satisfy a manufacturer's duty to warn in failure-to-warn lawsuits—was removed.

Why It Matters To MAHA

The Removal of Section 19, the Pesticide liability shield language, marks another major win for the MAHA movement in state legislative sessions. By striking Section 19, lawmakers preserved the ability of individuals and families to pursue failure-to-warn lawsuits against pesticide manufacturers in state courts, rather than limiting accountability to strict compliance with federal EPA labels. MAHA supporters, who prioritize reducing exposure to potentially harmful chemicals in food and the environment, viewed the provision as corporate protection that could hinder efforts to address health concerns linked to pesticides like glyphosate. This outcome demonstrates grassroots and bipartisan pushback succeeding at the state level, reinforcing MAHA's influence in blocking measures perceived as favoring industry over public health protections.