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Panel advances SB 26 to relax some pesticide business rules, add assistant applicator classification
Summary
SB 26 received a unanimous committee recommendation after department officials said the bill removes an old 'qualifying party' requirement, establishes a pesticide-qualified assistant classification for low-hazard uses, and creates a $1,000 penalty for improper residential or in-home application uses.
Robert Hogarth, director of plant industry at the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, told the committee that SB 26 makes technical changes to pesticide regulations: removing the 'qualifying party' requirement added in 2017 that the department says has increased violation rates, allowing a pesticide-qualified assistant to perform certain low-hazard ornamental turf applications without a full applicator license, and adding a $1,000 penalty for unlawful in-home or residential use by personnel who circumvent licensing rules. Hogarth said the department will work with Utah State University to develop training materials and that rulemaking will include a report back by November.
Committee members asked about salesperson training and enforcement; Hogarth said training specifics will be developed and included in subsequent rulemaking. Representative Arthur moved a favorable recommendation and the committee approved SB 26 unanimously.
