An Act authorizing the town of Boxborough to prohibit the use or sale of second-generation anti-coagulant rodenticides

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Dan Sena

Boxborough can locally regulate or ban SGAR use and sales, including prohibiting licensed commercial applicators from using them within the town.

Senate concurred

Purpose and intent

The bill authorizes the town of Boxborough to regulate, by local bylaw or board of health regulation, the use or sale of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) within Boxborough.

It explicitly allows Boxborough to prohibit the use of SGARs by licensed commercial applicators operating in the town.

The measure is framed as a local-option authority to address rodent control concerns while giving Boxborough flexibility to set rules tailored to its community.

Key provisions

Local control: Notwithstanding any general or special law (including Chapter 132B), Boxborough may enact local regulations governing SGAR use and sales.

Regulatory scope: The authority covers both the use and sale of SGARs within the town.

Applicators: The town could prohibit SGAR use by licensed commercial applicators, as defined in 333 CMR 10.00 (Massachusetts regulations governing pesticide applicators).

Effective date: The act takes effect upon passage.

Who/what would be affected

Boxborough residents and businesses: Subject to any local bylaw or health regulation adopted under this act.

Licensed commercial pesticide applicators: Potentially prohibited from using SGARs within Boxborough if the town adopts a regulation implementing such a prohibition.

Local government institutions: Boxborough’s board of health and any town committees involved in enforcement, permitting, and licensing for pesticide use and sales.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Legislative status: The bill is a local authorization measure that requires local adoption by Boxborough (via bylaw or board of health regulation) and does not mandate statewide changes.

Action history: Referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (6/24/2026); Senate concurred (6/29/2026), indicating passage in the Senate with potential alignment to the House version.

Effective date: Immediate upon passage of the act.

Additional context

This is a targeted local bill enabling Boxborough to act on selective rodenticide control strategies, potentially addressing environmental or public health concerns related to second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides.

The bill’s language preserves general authority by allowing Boxborough to implement restrictions through local mechanisms rather than imposing statewide requirements.

If you’d like, I can provide a brief comparison to existing state-wide pesticide regulations or draft a sample bylaw that Boxborough might adopt under this authorization.