For Immediate Release
08/29/2025
Contact
Craig Cassidy, DPR Information Officer
(916) 207-1099 | Craig.Cassidy@cdpr.ca.gov

California State Senate Confirms Dr. Karen Morrison as DPR Director

Photograph of Karen Morrison

SACRAMENTO – On August 25, 2025, the California State Senate unanimously confirmed the appointment of Dr. Karen Morrison as Director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR).

During the confirmation hearing held before the Senate Rules Committee on July 9, Director Morrison shared that her career in state service has been focused on blending a deep value of service with her passion for science and protecting the people who live and work in California.

“Since joining DPR in 2018, and particularly in the last couple of years as Chief Deputy Director, I have worked to implement our vision of advancing safer, effective and sustainable pest management,” Director Morrison said. “This is necessary to protect the health and wellbeing of workers and community members; to support a stable, economically viable and healthy food supply in California; and to protect and preserve our ecosystem, environment, and infrastructure.”

Director Morrison expressed a strong commitment to advancing DPR’s mission and vision, recognizing the department’s transitional state after securing significant investments in the 2024-2025 State Budget. She outlined key priorities for the department under her leadership, including specific goals to:

  • Expand environmental programs to best serve those most impacted by pesticide use
  • Improve outcomes for all Californians, including increasing access to sustainable approaches to safely manage pests
  • Increase the pace for pesticide product registration to bring alternatives to market
  • Enforce safe pesticide use (in agricultural, non-agricultural and urban settings statewide)
  • Improve worker safety
  • Implement a science-based process for reviewing and identifying higher-risk pesticides, their alternatives, and related mitigation measures

Karen Morrison speaking before the California Senate

Karen Morrison before at the California Senate


“To be successful in these goals,” Director Morrison said, “I am committed to working with transparency and integrity, focusing on opportunities to collaborate and improve on existing programs, and ensure accountability for our work and our outcomes.”

Director Morrison was initially appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom’s office on February 11, 2025, and has since served at the pleasure of the Governor, following two years of leading the department as Chief Deputy Director and Science Advisor. Senate confirmation of her appointment is required pursuant to California Government Code §1774.

About the Department of Pesticide Regulation

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s mission is to protect human health and the environment. The department achieves this mission by fostering safer, sustainable pest management and operating a robust pesticide regulatory system. DPR’s work includes registering all pesticides sold or used in California, conducting pre- and post-registration scientific evaluations of pesticides to assess and mitigate potential harm to human health or the environment for pesticides in the air and water, and enforcing pesticide use laws and regulations in coordination with 55 County Agriculture Commissioners and their 500 field inspectors.

DPR also conducts outreach to ensure pesticide workers, farmworkers and local communities have access to pesticide safety information. More information about DPR can be found on our website.