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Committee hears mixed views on exempting battery‑powered backpack sprayers from machine‑powered applicator licensing
Summary
Testimony on Senate Bill 360 divided between proponents who say battery-powered sprayers reduce ergonomic strain for public employees and opponents who warn automation could increase pesticide use and risk; Department of Agriculture officials clarified scope and limits in a May 5 public hearing.
The Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water Committee on May 5 heard testimony for and against Senate Bill 360, a bill that would exempt certain employees using battery‑powered devices to apply pesticides from some current machine‑powered applicator licensing requirements and direct the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) to develop standards and training for safe use.
Senator David Brock Smith and Representative Eric Boyce described the bill as a constituent-driven effort to update licensing rules for newer, battery‑powered backpack sprayers, and said it would make application easier for public employees…
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