vermont

Vermont Just Banned Paraquat: What It Means for Your Legal Rights

Vermont made history in 2026 by becoming the first U.S. state to ban paraquat, a widely used weed killer that researchers have connected to Parkinson’s disease. Governor Phil Scott signed H.739 into law on May 26, 2026, after the bill passed with bipartisan support. The law phases out paraquat use across the state, taking effect November 1, 2026, with a transition period running until 2030 for fruit orchards and small fruit crop farmers.

The decision puts Vermont at the center of a national conversation about a chemical that’s been sprayed on American farms for more than 60 years. According to AP News, the ban reflects mounting concern about paraquat’s link to Parkinson’s disease—a connection that has also fueled thousands of lawsuits against the companies that made and sold it.