The legislative session is only two weeks away from reaching its first deadline. The first deadline is for committees to act favorably on bills in the house of origin. This narrows the topics under consideration by lawmakers for the year. However, deadlines do not apply to the House committees on Capital Investment, Ways and Means, Taxes, or Rules and Legislative Administration, nor to the Senate committees on Capital Investment, Finance, Taxes, or Rules and Administration. There is also no deadline for the introduction of bills.

The House Agriculture Committee this week received updates on the Agriculture Research, Education, Extension and Technology Transfer (AGREETT) program and the Forever Green Initiative at the University of Minnesota. They also heard bills on the Farmer-Lender Mediation program, bans on several agricultural chemicals, and the veterinarians/veterinary technicians. The Senate Agriculture Committee heard bills relating to veterinarians/veterinary technicians and cell-cultured food products.

Bills this week:

HF 3965 (Tabke)/SF 4160 (Hoffman) - Prohibit the sale and use of paraquat dichloride.

Summary: Bans the sale and use of paraquat.

Position: Oppose as written.

To our members: Paraquat is federally classified as a restricted-use pesticide, meaning it may only be used by certified applicators. The EPA also requires paraquat-specific training in addition to standard applicator certification, as well as additional safety requirements including specialized labeling and closed-system packaging. With these guidelines and regulations already in place, MFBF opposes additional state and local regulations that would prevent farmers from using a crop protection tool that has already been approved by the federal government.

Action taken by MFBF: Provided written testimony in opposition to the bill.

Status: Laid over in the House Agriculture Committee on 03/11/2026. Introduced in the Senate on 03/05/2026 and referred to the Agriculture Committee.


HF 3704 (Pursell)/SF 4052 (Kunesh) - Prohibit the sale and distribution of certain seeds coated or treated with systemic insecticides without the approval of the commissioner of agriculture.

Summary: Bans the sale and use of neonicotinoid insecticides and certain seeds coated or treated with systemic insecticides.

Position: Oppose as written.

To our members: All crop protection tools, including seed treatments and pesticides, are stringently regulated by the federal government under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). Seed treatments are an important tool as farmers continue to grow a safe and sustainable supply of food, fuel, and fiber—they allow farmers to target pests directly and precisely, providing critical early season protection and minimizing the need for additional pesticide applications later in the growing season.

Action taken by MFBF: Provided verbal testimony in opposition to the bill.

Status: Laid over in the House Agriculture Committee on 03/11/2026. Introduced in the Senate on 03/02/2026 and referred to the Agriculture Committee.


SF 239 (Draheim)/HF 2170 (Schwartz) - Cell-cultured meat and cell-cultured poultry definition.

Summary: Defines cell-cultured food and requires labels to identify if a product contains cell-cultured food.

Position: Support as amended.

To our members: Proper food labeling is essential for fostering trust and transparency among consumers, allowing them to make informed choices about the products they purchase and the methods by which they are produced. Accordingly, MFBF supports truthful, transparent labeling of lab-grown products.

Action taken by MFBF: Provided verbal testimony in support of the bill.

Status: Passed the Senate Agriculture Committee on 03/11/2026 and sent to the Senate Floor. Introduced in the House on 03/12/2025 and referred to the Agriculture Committee.


SF 3583 (Putnam)/HF 3692 (Smith) - Farmer-Lender Mediation Act extension provision.

Summary: Extends the expiration date of the Farmer-Lender Mediation Act from this year to 2032.

Position: Support as written.

To our members: In an extremely challenging farm economy, it is critical for farmers struggling with debt to have options. Through FLM, farmers can renegotiate, restructure, or resolve their debt. Extending this program, which will otherwise expire this year, keeps these options on the table.

Action taken by MFBF: Provided verbal testimony in support and signed on to a joint letter of support with other agriculture groups.

Status: Passed the Senate Higher Education Committee on 03/10/2026 and sent to the Finance Committee. Laid over in the House Agriculture Committee on 03/09/2026.


SF 3584 (Putnam)/HF 4191 (Smith) - Farmer-lender mediation program hiring appropriation.

Summary: As amended, appropriates $150,000 one-time to hire additional staff for the Farmer-Lender Mediation Program.

Position: Support as amended.

To our members: In addition to the current condition of the farm economy, data indicate that requests for mediation under the Farmer-Lender Mediation are on the upswing. Providing additional staff for this program ensures they have the capacity to accommodate and work on mediations in a timely manner.

Action taken by MFBF: Provided verbal testimony in support of the legislation and signed on to a joint letter of support with other agriculture groups.

Status: Passed the Senate Higher Education Committee on 03/10/2026 and sent to the Finance Committee. Introduced in the House on 03/12/2026 and referred to the Higher Education Committee.