Pesticide Data Transparency Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]
- Committees
- Agriculture Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Sep 28, 2026
Bottom line
The bill aims to increase transparency regarding pesticide use data by allowing the public disclosure of information that could identify individual producers, while also requiring the EPA to facilitate this disclosure.
What it actually does
This bill removes a statutory prohibition that prevents government agencies, specifically the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), from releasing pesticide data that could directly or indirectly reveal the identity of individual agricultural producers. It mandates the EPA to report on previously withheld data and prohibits the agency from creating new rules that would delay or prevent the public disclosure of this information.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that greater transparency in pesticide use data is crucial for public health, environmental monitoring, and scientific research. They contend that knowing where and how pesticides are applied can help identify potential risks, inform policy decisions, and empower communities to understand their exposure. They believe the current prohibition shields important information from public scrutiny.
Opponents contend
Opponents might argue that disclosing data that identifies individual producers could compromise proprietary business information, expose farmers to unfair scrutiny or harassment, and potentially lead to competitive disadvantages. They may also raise concerns about data security and the potential for misuse of sensitive agricultural operational details.
The bill text is very short and clear, making it highly accessible for a reader to understand its direct legislative changes within minutes.
Section 2
Eliminating Restrictions on Pesticide Data Publication
This section directly amends existing law (7 U.S.C. 136i-1(b)) by striking language that currently prevents government agencies from releasing pesticide data, including location data, if it could directly or indirectly identify individual agricultural producers. The effect is to remove this specific legal barrier to public disclosure of such data.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this provision is essential for transparency, allowing the public and researchers to better understand pesticide application patterns, assess environmental and health risks, and hold agricultural practices accountable. They believe the public's right to know outweighs individual producer privacy in this context.
Critics contend
Critics contend that removing this protection could expose individual farmers to undue scrutiny, harassment, and competitive disadvantages by revealing sensitive operational details. They argue it could lead to misinterpretation of data or unfair targeting of specific producers.
Tradeoffs
This provision directly balances the public's right to information and environmental transparency against the privacy and proprietary interests of individual agricultural producers.
Section 3
Mandating a Report on Disclosable Pesticide Data
This section requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to submit a report to specific Congressional committees within 180 days of the bill's enactment. The report must detail the records and data that were previously barred from public disclosure under the old law but are no longer protected due to this Act. It also requires recommendations on how the EPA can effectively compile and publicly disclose this newly available data in a timely manner.
Section 4
Preventing Delays in Data Disclosure
This section explicitly prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator from issuing, implementing, or enforcing any new regulation, guidance document, or interpretive rule that could prevent or significantly delay the public disclosure of the pesticide data now permitted to be released under the amended law. This aims to prevent the EPA from creating new administrative hurdles to transparency.