Plant Disease Control - Nurseries - Inspection, Certification, and Licensing Fees

SB 264 increases fees for nursery inspections, certification, and broker/dealer licensing to fund plant disease control efforts. It raises annual inspection fees for nurseries based on acreage (e.g., $20 for 1 acre or less, up to $1,500 for over 10 acres) and sets a $150 certification fee for nurseries (up from $100). Brokers and dealers must pay a $150 annual license fee, while producers of strawberries ($50 per acre) and grapes/fruit trees ($70 per acre) face new certification fees. All collected fees will fund the Plant Protection Fund to cover inspection, certification, and disease control costs. The changes take effect October 1, 2025.