Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Vermont committee reviews implementation questions from 2024 Act 182 banning many neonicotinoid uses
Summary
Lawyers and legislators told the committee that Act 182 (2024) bans certain neonicotinoid seed treatments and outdoor applications during bloom, but state agency staff are interpreting the statute——to also prohibit treatments of trees because trees are "perennials" under the statute; the committee will review proposed agency rules next week.
Michael Grady, legislative counsel, briefed the committee on Act 182, the 2024 law restricting many uses of neonicotinoid pesticides and banning certain neonicotinoid-treated seeds.
The law, Grady said, "relat[es] to banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides," includes definitions of treated articles and neonicotinoid pesticides, and sets exemptions and emergency exceptions that the secretary of agriculture may issue in writing for up to one year.
The committee's central issue Thursday was statutory interpretation: the act bars applications to "ornamental plants," and agency staff told counsel they interpret the statute's reference to perennials to include trees. That interpretation, Grady said, means the agency will not permit arborists to apply neonicotinoids to trees for nonbloom or noncrop treatments unless an…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
