Committee hears proposal to prohibit certain neonic-treated commodity seeds, with waiver path
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Summary
HB 10 86 would ban the sale of certain neonicotinoid-treated corn, wheat and soybean seeds but retain a waiver process for emergency or demonstrated need. Conservation lawyers, farmers and scientists told the committee that Cornell and Quebec studies indicate limited agronomic benefit from prophylactic treated seeds; the Department of Agriculture flagged implementation burdens.
Lawmakers heard HB 10 86, introduced by Representative John T. McDonald, which would prohibit sale of certain neonicotinoid-treated commodity seeds (corn, wheat and soy) and create a permitting/waiver pathway for limited emergency uses.
The sponsor said his amendment would focus the restriction narrowly on seeds that typically provide little agronomic benefit and that the bill’s delayed effective date would give the market and regulators time to prepare. "This bill responds by prohibiting the sale and use of neonicotinoid-treated corn, wheat and soy seeds," a Conservation Law Foundation representative summarized.
Alan Wyman, the Department of Agriculture’s seed-control official, told the committee the department opposes the bill as drafted because an effective waiver and enforcement process would require additional staffing, inspections, and risk-assessment capacity the department currently lacks. Wyman recommended relying on the Pesticide Control Board's rulemaking where possible and cautioned that many implementation details (waiver standards, required documentation) still need to be specified.
Supporters including farmer witnesses and conservation groups said the evidence is clear that prophylactic seed treatments in many commodity settings provide little measurable yield benefit while producing widespread environmental contamination. Scott Sanderson of the Conservation Law Foundation urged a narrow, targeted approach and cited Quebec’s experience after its 2019 measures and a Cornell University 2020 review finding little economic benefit for many treated-seed uses.
Witnesses recommended the waiver process include a pest-risk assessment that documents why a treatment is necessary at a specific site and that regulators automate the process where possible. The sponsor and supporters emphasized a staged implementation (the bill provides a 2029 effective date) to allow farmers and seed suppliers to adapt.
No committee vote took place; the committee closed the hearing and recorded hundreds of online supporters and several opposers. The bill will be considered in a work session with agency staff to clarify waiver logistics and fiscal impacts.
