SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1672        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 587

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James B. Eldridge

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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 to protect pollinators and public health.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1672        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 587

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 to protect pollinators and public health.

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 “Nematode” the following definition:-

“Neonicotinoid,” a pesticide belonging to the neonicotinoid class of chemicals which act selectively on nicotine acetylcholine receptors, including but not limited to, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, nithiazine, nitenpyram, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam, and any other pesticide identified as a neonicotinoid by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or the department.

SECTION 2. Said chapter 132B is hereby amended by inserting after section 16 the following section:-

Section 17. (a) Beginning on January 1, 2029, no person shall distribute, sell, or offer for sale any agricultural seed for corn, wheat or soybean if such seed is treated with a neonicotinoid unless a waiver is issued by the department to the user of such seed pursuant to this section.

(b) Beginning on January 1, 2029, no person without a waiver issued by the department pursuant to this section shall use any agricultural seed for corn, wheat or soybean if such seed is treated with a neonicotinoid.

(c) The department may issue a waiver to allow the use of agricultural seeds treated with a neonicotinoid for the production of agricultural crops only upon application by a person who has completed an integrated pest management training, conducted a pest risk assessment, and submitted to the department a pest risk assessment report. The department may issue a waiver if, after review of the pest risk assessment report, the department determines the following: (i) that the occurrence of a pest presents a significant risk of imminent harm, injury, or loss to agricultural crops; (ii) that the use of agricultural seeds treated with a neonicotinoid will be effective in addressing the pest risk; (iii) that the use of agricultural seeds treated with a neonicotinoid will not cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment, including on non-target organisms, surface water quality, and groundwater quality; and (iv) that no other less harmful seed treatment, pesticide, or pest management practice will be effective in addressing the pest risk.

(d) A waiver issued pursuant to this section shall: (i) provide the basis for the determinations made by the department pursuant to subsection (c) of this section; (ii) specify the waiver’s geographic scope, which may include only properties identified in the pest risk assessment report; and (iii) specify the waiver’s start date and duration, not to exceed one year.

(e) A person issued a waiver pursuant to this section for the use of agricultural seeds treated with a neonicotinoid shall maintain copies of related pest risk assessment reports and records of the use of agricultural seeds treated with a neonicotinoid, including the date and location of use. Such copies and records shall be subject to review upon request by the department.

(f) The department, in consultation with the board, may establish regulations for issuing waivers pursuant to this section. Such regulations may prescribe application fees.

(g) Waivers issued pursuant to this section shall be public records. The department shall make such waivers publicly available online.