Statewide Pesticide Policy
Protecting farmworkers and consumers from harmful chemicals, one bill at a time.
Beyond Toxics supports legislation across Oregon that prioritizes health and wellness for communities affected by pesticides and pesticide drift. The use of agricultural chemicals like chlorpyrifos, 2,4-D, chlorpyralid, and other similar chemicals is placing undue risk on both farmworkers and consumers. A more prudent approach that puts public health first is needed and long overdue.
WHAT WE ARE DOING
We support leadership in communities on the front lines of pesticide exposure. Beyond Toxics works with community leaders, mostly working class communities and communities of color, to connect them with local and statewide policy advocacy campaigns.
Recent News
Our Legislative Wins
Toxic Free Schools
Beyond Toxics fought for years to pass Toxic Free Schools, finally succeeding in 2025. Toxic Free Schools protects children from exposure to pesticides and herbicides in school by mandating schools review and update their Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plans every five years.
Under Toxic Free Schools, schools must include school gardens in their IPM plans and publish them on district websites for transparency. It is an important step in the right direction in ensuring our youth are able to learn in safe environments, free from health risks like pesticides.
Oregon Department of Agriculture Restricts Chlorpyrifos Use
After nearly three years of advocacy work, in alliance with PCUN, Oregon’s farm worker union, the Oregon Department of Agriculture has adopted a new set of laws to immediately restrict the use of chlorpyrifos! The broad coalition organized by Beyond Toxics and PCUN, mobilized hundreds of comments and worked closely with the agency to eliminate barriers to public participation to ensure that farmworkers and impacted members of the public could make their voices heard.
Oregon Becomes First State to Restrict ACP Herbicide
On May 9, 2019, Oregon became the first state in the country to restrict the use of Aminocyclopyrachlor (ACP). ACP is marketed as a weed killer, but has also killed many trees in central Oregon. Beyond Toxics led the grassroots campaign that resulted in this landmark victory to protect trees and wildlife from a potent, dangerous herbicide.
How You Can Help
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