Illinois families, children, and ecosystems face increasing risks from pesticide exposure. Toxic chemicals drift away from their application sites risking exposure to children outdoors at schools, parks, and neighborhoods—without warning—putting public health at risk. Additionally, despite well-documented risks, some of the most volatile pesticides remain legal, threatening our air, water, food, and wildlife.
New legislation seeks to change this:
- HB 1596 requires applicators making large-scale pesticide applications to provide advance notice before spraying near schools and public parks – protecting children, families, and communities from unnecessary exposure.
- HB 1645 bans the sale and use of ester formulations of 2,4-D, a highly volatile pesticide known to drift far beyond its target, posing serious risks to people, crops, and ecosystems. Importantly, producers will still have access to other effective 2,4-D formulations that do not pose the same level of risk
These are commonsense, science-backed measures that prioritize public health, environmental safety, and transparency. Illinois families deserve the right to know when pesticides are being applied near their homes, schools, and public spaces, and we must prevent the use of chemicals that endanger our communities.
YOUR VOICE MATTERS! Stand up and urge your legislators to vote YES on HB 1596 and HB 1645 to safeguard our communities from toxic pesticide exposure.
