Protect Pollinators Through Pesticide Regulation

To protect bee and other pollinator populations throughout the state, the bill requires the commissioner of agriculture (commissioner), on or before March 1, 2021, to adopt rules to regulate the use of neonicotinoid pesticides and sulfoximine pesticides by classifying specific neonicotinoid pesticides and sulfoximine pesticides as restricted-use pesticides. The commissioner's rules must exempt from the restricted use of the pesticides their use as indoor pest control, personal care, and pet care products; however, the commissioner, thereafter, may amend the rules to disallow their use as indoor pest control, personal care, or pet care products if the commissioner determines that another commercially available product that is not a neonicotinoid pesticide or a sulfoximine pesticide is as or more effective than a neonicotinoid pesticide or a sulfoximine pesticide when used in accordance with the product's label directions for the same indoor pest control, personal care, or pet care use or uses. The commissioner's rules regarding the restricted use of neonicotinoid pesticides and sulfoximine pesticides must not apply to commercial applicators, limited commercial applicators, public applicators, qualified supervisors, certified operators, and private applicators. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)