HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1721        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James K. Hawkins

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act Restricting the use of Rodenticides in the Environment.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1721        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act Restricting the use of Rodenticides in the Environment.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 2 of chapter 132B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of “Animal” the following:-

“Anticoagulant rodenticide”, any pesticide product that has a mode of action that interferes with blood clotting including, but not limited to, the following active ingredients: Brodifacoum, Bromadiolone, Chlorophacinone, Difenacoum, Difethialone, Diphacinonon, or Warfarin.

SECTION 2. Section 5 of said chapter 132B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following paragraph:-

The department, with the approval of the board, shall by regulation establish a process and standards for the limited use of anticoagulant rodenticides by licensed applicators in public health emergencies, provided that such process and standards provide for one-time indoor use in a single location to address an urgent public health emergency, as determined by the state department of public health and such use shall: (i) be limited to 14 days; (ii) be accompanied by integrated pest management actions that include non-chemical methods and exclusionary measures to control rodents; (iii) require additional labeling of anticoagulant rodenticides used, including but not limited to, the name of the rodenticide clearly labeled on any bait box; (iv) require written rationale for the need for anticoagulant rodenticides over other non-toxic short-term alternatives; and (v) require applicators to report to the department after the 14-day emergency use period and include a plan for ongoing rodent control at the location.

Regulations shall also include provisions for the emergency use of anticoagulant rodenticides to protect drinking water supply, to control vectors for mosquito-borne illness, and for emergent infectious disease control.

SECTION 3. Section 7 of said chapter 132B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following paragraph:-

The subcommittee as established in section 3A of this chapter shall not register or reregister anticoagulant rodenticides, except that it may register or reregister anticoagulant rodenticides for emergency use, as provided by the department pursuant to section 5 of this chapter.

SECTION 4. The department shall report annually and include on its website information regarding the emergency use of anticoagulant rodenticides including, but not limited to, locations where the anticoagulant rodenticide was used, the types and amounts used, the contents of ongoing rodent control plans required in section 5 of chapter 132B, and relevant accompanying documents.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect January 1, 2027.