Latest news with #SB144
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Passage of New Georgia Bill a Win for Farmers
With Governor Kemp's signature, Georgia joins North Dakota in reaffirming EPA-backed science behind crop protection tools ST. LOUIS, May 12, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Farmers and others in agriculture applaud Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia General Assembly for supporting the crop protection tools so important to Georgia's farmers' ability to produce affordable, safe, abundant food. With Governor Kemp signing SB 144, Georgia has taken the step to re-affirm the authority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) scientific rulings on the safety of crop protection products. "The signing of SB 144 by Governor Kemp demonstrates that Georgia stands with its farmers, who work tirelessly to produce safe and affordable food for communities throughout the state. We thank Governor Kemp and the legislators, farmers and ag groups that supported this important piece of legislation," said Brian Naber, president, Crop Science North America & Australia/New Zealand Region. "At Bayer, we are committed to developing agricultural innovations that help farmers thrive. This is important not only for Georgia's farmers and American agriculture, but also the everyday American worried about the cost of groceries, which could increase if these vital tools went away. We hope states around the country considering similar legislation will also support farmers and the tools critical to their success." This legislation would directly address – and reinforce – the integrity of the regulatory process and ensure that the EPA's thorough and scientifically based conclusion are adhered to and would further reinforce the health and safety warning labels, which are supported by an extensive regulatory process. We hope the courts will apply this legislation appropriately. Ultimately it will be up to the courts to decide on how they interpret the law, but we're optimistic that it will reinforce the legal certainty regarding claims about the warning label. The passage of SB 144 is possible because of the efforts from lawmakers, commodity groups, farmers and Georgians alike who are committed to the success of Georgia's farms, which along with related industries contribute more than $91 billion to the state's economy. Glyphosate-based herbicides have revolutionized farming by effectively and safely managing weeds, which are among the biggest factors impacting farm yields and the ability to use sustainable farming methods. Like all crop protection products, glyphosate has been subject to rigorous testing and oversight and the EPA and all leading regulatory bodies around the world have repeatedly found glyphosate-based products are safe to use as directed. The newly passed legislation ensures that when the EPA makes its scientifically based conclusions about the label required for a product, that stands and is consistently adhered to. To learn more about glyphosate, visit: About BayerBayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, "Health for all, Hunger for none," the company's products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2024, the Group employed around 93,000 people and had sales of 46.6 billion euros. R&D expenses amounted to 6.2 billion euros. For more information, go to Forward-Looking StatementsThis release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments. View source version on Contacts Contact for media inquiries: Brian Leake 314.370.3285 Email: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Passage of New Georgia Bill a Win for Farmers
With Governor Kemp's signature, Georgia joins North Dakota in reaffirming EPA-backed science behind crop protection tools ST. LOUIS, May 12, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Farmers and others in agriculture applaud Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia General Assembly for supporting the crop protection tools so important to Georgia's farmers' ability to produce affordable, safe, abundant food. With Governor Kemp signing SB 144, Georgia has taken the step to re-affirm the authority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) scientific rulings on the safety of crop protection products. "The signing of SB 144 by Governor Kemp demonstrates that Georgia stands with its farmers, who work tirelessly to produce safe and affordable food for communities throughout the state. We thank Governor Kemp and the legislators, farmers and ag groups that supported this important piece of legislation," said Brian Naber, president, Crop Science North America & Australia/New Zealand Region. "At Bayer, we are committed to developing agricultural innovations that help farmers thrive. This is important not only for Georgia's farmers and American agriculture, but also the everyday American worried about the cost of groceries, which could increase if these vital tools went away. We hope states around the country considering similar legislation will also support farmers and the tools critical to their success." This legislation would directly address – and reinforce – the integrity of the regulatory process and ensure that the EPA's thorough and scientifically based conclusion are adhered to and would further reinforce the health and safety warning labels, which are supported by an extensive regulatory process. We hope the courts will apply this legislation appropriately. Ultimately it will be up to the courts to decide on how they interpret the law, but we're optimistic that it will reinforce the legal certainty regarding claims about the warning label. The passage of SB 144 is possible because of the efforts from lawmakers, commodity groups, farmers and Georgians alike who are committed to the success of Georgia's farms, which along with related industries contribute more than $91 billion to the state's economy. Glyphosate-based herbicides have revolutionized farming by effectively and safely managing weeds, which are among the biggest factors impacting farm yields and the ability to use sustainable farming methods. Like all crop protection products, glyphosate has been subject to rigorous testing and oversight and the EPA and all leading regulatory bodies around the world have repeatedly found glyphosate-based products are safe to use as directed. The newly passed legislation ensures that when the EPA makes its scientifically based conclusions about the label required for a product, that stands and is consistently adhered to. To learn more about glyphosate, visit: About BayerBayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, "Health for all, Hunger for none," the company's products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2024, the Group employed around 93,000 people and had sales of 46.6 billion euros. R&D expenses amounted to 6.2 billion euros. For more information, go to Forward-Looking StatementsThis release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments. View source version on Contacts Contact for media inquiries: Brian Leake 314.370.3285 Email: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pesticide in food that's 'making America sick again' may get free pass
A bill waiting on the desk of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has drawn criticism from those supporting the "Make America Healthy Again" movement, who claim it would impede lawsuits against pesticide companies. Georgia SB 144 would "clarify that a manufacturer cannot be held liable for failing to warn consumers of health risks above those required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency with respect to pesticides," reads the bill. Emma Post, a spokesperson for MAHA Action based in Los Angeles, told Fox News Digital, "The bill is literally making America sick again." 'Food Is Medicine' Takes Shape As Rfk Jr. Praises School Menu Changes In West Virginia The legislation comes as Bayer Monsanto, producer of the Roundup weed killer, was ordered last week by a Georgia jury to pay nearly $2.1 billion in damages to a man who says the product caused his cancer, according to reports. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long been a vocal critic of Roundup, working with his legal team in 2018 to award $289 million to a man who alleged the weed killer caused his non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Read On The Fox News App Glyphosate, a pesticide used in products such as Roundup, has been shown to raise cancer risk in studies. In a study published in the journal Mutation Research, University of Washington researchers found that exposure to the pesticide raises the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma by 41%. Kelly Ryerson, founder of Glyphosate Facts and owner of the Instagram account @glyphosategirl, told Fox News Digital that her journey researching the herbicide began with her own health struggles. For more Health articles, visit Ryerson, who is based in California, previously struggled with chronic illness and autoimmune issues, which she said improved when she stopped eating gluten. After attending a medical conference at Columbia University's Celiac Disease Center, Ryerson began to question modern farming practices rather than the gluten itself. "A lot of times, farmers are spraying Roundup on our grains right before harvest to facilitate an easier harvest," said Ryerson. "After that easier harvest, because everything's dry at the same time, those crops go directly to the mill and may end up in our food supply, at really alarmingly high levels." Ryerson said she has been advocating against "pesticide liability shields" such as the bill in Georgia. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "This is a terrifying thing." She added, "All of those victims will not be able to sue." Amid concerns about fertility, Ryerson said she brought three sperm samples to a lab to be tested, and glyphosate was present. "It crosses the blood-test barrier. It is also shown to kill sperm," she cautioned. "So now when you're eating that every single day, which we all are, because it's ubiquitous — it's in the water. It's in the food, it's in the air. We can't avoid it." Multiple studies published in peer-reviewed medical journals have found that glyphosate can harm sperm quality. Everything To Know About Maha Farmers Dana and Lauren Cavalea of Freedom Farms in Greene, New York, told Fox News Digital that they don't use any chemicals in their fields. "We use the animals to restore and regenerate the land," said Lauren Cavalea. "[There are] other things that are outside of our control," Dana Cavalea added. For instance, "if you have folks nearby who are using chemicals … there's a chance they [will] get into your ground." He went on, "You have a lot of people who are financially distressed, trying to keep their farms going. In order to create max production, we have to use these remedies that have been provided to us in order to create mass production." Utah Bans Fluoride From Public Drinking Water, Aligning With Maha Movement He noted that it is a complicated yet simple system, and that he hopes to see things change amid the MAHA movement. A spokesperson for Monsanto/Bayer — maker of Roundup — said in a statement to Fox News Digital that the verdict in the recent Georgia case "conflicts with the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence and the consensus of regulatory bodies and their scientific assessments worldwide." Following scientific assessments in 2023, the European Union Commission re-approved glyphosate for another 10 years. "We continue to stand fully behind the safety of Roundup products — critical tools that farmers rely on to produce affordable food and feed the world," added the Monsanto spokesperson. Fox News Digital reached out to the EPA and Gov. Kemp's office for article source: Pesticide in food that's 'making America sick again' may get free pass
Fox News
01-04-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Pesticide in food that's 'making America sick again' may get free pass
A bill waiting on the desk of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has drawn criticism from those supporting the "Make America Healthy Again" movement, who claim it would impede lawsuits against pesticide companies. Georgia SB 144 would "clarify that a manufacturer cannot be held liable for failing to warn consumers of health risks above those required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency with respect to pesticides," reads the bill. Emma Post, a spokesperson for MAHA Action based in Los Angeles, told Fox News Digital, "The bill is literally making America sick again." The legislation comes as Bayer Monsanto, producer of the Roundup weed killer, was ordered last week by a Georgia jury to pay nearly $2.1 billion in damages to a man who says the product caused his cancer, according to reports. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long been a vocal critic of Roundup, working with his legal team in 2018 to award $289 million to a man who alleged the weed killer caused his non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Glyphosate, a pesticide used in products such as Roundup, has been shown to raise cancer risk in studies. In a study published in the journal Mutation Research, University of Washington researchers found that exposure to the pesticide raises the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma by 41%. Kelly Ryerson, founder of Glyphosate Facts and owner of the Instagram account @glyphosategirl, told Fox News Digital that her journey researching the herbicide began with her own health struggles. For more Health articles, visit Ryerson, who is based in California, previously struggled with chronic illness and autoimmune issues, which she said improved when she stopped eating gluten. After attending a medical conference at Columbia University's Celiac Disease Center, Ryerson began to question modern farming practices rather than the gluten itself. "A lot of times, farmers are spraying Roundup on our grains right before harvest to facilitate an easier harvest," said Ryerson. "After that easier harvest, because everything's dry at the same time, those crops go directly to the mill and may end up in our food supply, at really alarmingly high levels." Ryerson said she has been advocating against "pesticide liability shields" such as the bill in Georgia. "This is a terrifying thing." She added, "All of those victims will not be able to sue." Amid concerns about fertility, Ryerson said she brought three sperm samples to a lab to be tested, and glyphosate was present. "The bill is literally making America sick again." "It crosses the blood-test barrier. It is also shown to kill sperm," she cautioned. "So now when you're eating that every single day, which we all are, because it's ubiquitous — it's in the water. It's in the food, it's in the air. We can't avoid it." Multiple studies published in peer-reviewed medical journals have found that glyphosate can harm sperm quality. Farmers Dana and Lauren Cavalea of Freedom Farms in Greene, New York, told Fox News Digital that they don't use any chemicals in their fields. "We use the animals to restore and regenerate the land," said Lauren Cavalea. "[There are] other things that are outside of our control," Dana Cavalea added. For instance, "if you have folks nearby who are using chemicals … there's a chance they [will] get into your ground." He went on, "You have a lot of people who are financially distressed, trying to keep their farms going. In order to create max production, we have to use these remedies that have been provided to us in order to create mass production." He noted that it is a complicated yet simple system, and that he hopes to see things change amid the MAHA movement. A spokesperson for Monsanto/Bayer — maker of Roundup — said in a statement to Fox News Digital that the verdict in the recent Georgia case "conflicts with the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence and the consensus of regulatory bodies and their scientific assessments worldwide." Following scientific assessments in 2023, the European Union Commission re-approved glyphosate for another 10 years. "We continue to stand fully behind the safety of Roundup products — critical tools that farmers rely on to produce affordable food and feed the world," added the Monsanto spokesperson. Fox News Digital reached out to the EPA and Governor Kemp's office for comment.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Utah senator says former AG Reyes' office used lawmakers as ‘pawns' in push for increased penalties
The office of the Utah Attorney General at the Capitol in Salt Lake City is pictured on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) A Utah state senator said the Utah Attorney General's Office, under the leadership of Sean Reyes, used lawmakers as 'pawns' to advocate for increased penalties for certain sex crimes, which critics argue would lead to more people being convicted of first-degree felonies. The comment came on Friday morning from Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, during a Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee meeting where lawmakers were considering a bill that makes a number of tweaks to the state criminal code regarding sex crimes involving children. Sponsored by Sen. Karen Kwan, D-Taylorsville, SB144 passed out of the committee after a 5-2 vote, with Weiler and Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, voting 'no.' Weiler's opposition, he told the committee, in part stems from a controversial provision in the bill that would increase the penalty for someone involved in the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material — also referred to as child pornography — from a second-degree felony, to a first-degree penalty. Under current law, distributing or producing child sexual abuse material is a second-degree felony unless the victim is under 14 years old. In that case, the perpetrator can be charged with a first-degree felony. Kwan's bill would eliminate that carveout, enhancing the penalty across the board. Assistant Attorney General Carl Holland, who presented the bill with Kwan, described a situation where a group of men filmed the rape of a 15-year-old girl. The man convicted of filming and distributing the video faced the same criminal penalty as someone who 'simply downloaded pictures of some stranger online.' 'But that filming and distribution caused a different magnitude of harm that this victim is going to have to deal with for the rest of their life,' Holland said. 'Distribution is different. Distribution does not permit victims to heal.' First-degree felonies are reserved for the most serious crimes, like murder, rape or child kidnapping, and critics of the bill worry about putting the distribution of child sexual abuse material on the same plane. Plus, the bill changes the language in existing code so someone who downloads child sexual abuse material — possibly on accident — but doesn't view it, could still be hit with a first-degree felony. 'If someone kidnapped the child, instead of photographing them, and murdered them, it would also be a first-degree felony,' said Weiler, an attorney. 'So you want to elevate photographing a child to essentially the same crime as murdering them?' The bill also undoes an agreement that happened more than two years ago between lawmakers, defense attorneys and the Utah Attorney General's Office, which added to Weiler's concerns. In 2023, Sen. Chris Wilson, R-Logan, proposed a similar bill, which raised the same concerns from the same Senate committee and defense attorneys. 'For the very first time, it created a first-degree felony for a hands-off sexual offense,' said Mark Moffat with the Utah Defense Attorney Association. Moffat met with Wilson and representatives from the attorney general's office, and negotiated the bill at length, resulting in the current state code which imposes a first-degree felony if the victim is under 14 years old. But over the summer, Weiler says, the attorney general's office tried to undo those negotiations, approaching Kwan and Rep. Stephen Whyte, R-Mapleton, who is sponsoring a similar bill that already passed the House. 'The attorney general's office circumvented that process and went to Sen. Kwan and Rep. Whyte to get everything that they wanted in Sen. Wilson's bill. They left me out of that process, they left out the other members of my committee from two years ago that were involved. And I believe, unfortunately, they used Sen. Kwan and Rep. Whyte as pawns,' Weiler said on Friday, before clarifying it was 'long before Derek Brown was elected, so it all happened under Sean Reyes.' Kwan said she wasn't aware of the history behind the bill. Regardless, she said there's a need to advance it. The internet is ever evolving, she said, and in the two years since the negotiations took place, a lot has changed. 'The internet moves very quickly and these perpetrators are able to find loopholes, and we need to make sure we are protecting the kids at whatever age they are,' she said. 'This is a lifelong sentence for our victims who are going through this and get revictimized every time those pictures get shared.' Why does raising the penalty matter? Isn't it good to throw harsher charges at people involved in the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material? 'We're not here to say it doesn't cause damage,' said Moffat. 'But there's a significant difference between viewing images and physically assaulting a child.' According to critics of the bill, and the legislature's affinity for increasing punishments and creating new criminal penalties, the approach can lead to a loss in taxpayer dollars without actually reducing crime. With new laws, is Utah holding criminals accountable or adding to mass incarceration? 'Most of these (bills) are increasing consequences for behavior that is already illegal,' said Moffat. 'When you increase penalties, you increase the exposure that people have in prison.' That could lead to overcrowding, which can make prisons less safe — and in turn can make it harder to recruit and retain employees. Bills that impose mandatory minimum sentences also take discretion away from courts and the Utah Board of Pardons & Parole. Ultimately the bill passed, but some Republicans on the committee Friday seemed hesitant before voting 'yes.' Sen. Mike Mckell, R-Spanish Fork, said 'there are still some concerns that need to be worked out,' while Sen. Calvin Musselman, R-West Haven, said lawmakers should be 'cautious' moving forward. 'We've enhanced penalties over and over again. I've never seen a reduction. On anything. Ever,' Musselman said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
