PRESS RELEASE
Minnesota House of Representatives
REP. RICK HANSEN
April 15, 2026
House Republicans Continue to Block Bipartisan Legislation to Address Parkinson's Disease
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, Minnesota House Republicans presented HF 3548 in the Agriculture Committee, a bill intended to serve as the 2026 Agriculture Policy Bill. Importantly, the bill does not include HF 3965, a bipartisan bill authored by Rep. Brad Tabke to ban the herbicide paraquat.
Agriculture Committee Co-Chair, Representative Rick Hansen, released the following statement:
“In a tied House, banning an herbicide that is linked to Parkinson’s disease is a perfect example of something Minnesotans expect us to pass. We heard devastating testimony from Parkinson’s patients in committee, and the bill has bipartisan authors in both chambers, yet it’s not included in today's bill.”
“Minnesotans agree that if we can do something to protect people from developing this debilitating disease, we should do it. It’s time for GOP leadership to stand with Parkinson’s patients now and those who could develop Parkinson's in the future, not the Big Ag special interests that will always put profits over people.”
Studies have shown that those within a 500-meter range of a paraquat-treated field double their chance of developing Parkinson’s disease in their lifetimes. Paraquat is banned in more than 70 countries, including the only two countries that still manufacture the chemical—the United Kingdom and China.
You can watch the hearing on HF3965, where Parkinson’s patients from across the state asked legislators to take action and ban paraquat, here.