Summary — HB 6915
Title: AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF SECOND-GENERATION ANTICOAGULANT RODENTICIDES
Bill No.: HB 6915 (File No. 112) — introduced February 10, 2025
Subjects: Pesticides; Rodents; Energy and Environmental Protection; Fines/Violations; Reports
Note: The bill text itself was not provided. The following is a concise summary based on the bill title, subject tags, and legislative history, together with commonly expected provisions for legislation of this type. Where the exact text is unknown, items are described as likely provisions or impacts.
Purpose / Intent
The bill aims to regulate or restrict the use of second‑generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) to reduce unintended secondary poisoning of wildlife, pets, and non‑target animals, and to strengthen oversight, reporting, and enforcement related to rodenticide use.
(Second‑generation anticoagulant rodenticides commonly include active ingredients such as brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difethialone, and difenacoum.)
Key provisions (likely, based on title and subjects)
- Definition of SGARs and scope of products covered (identifying active ingredients and product types).
- Limitations or prohibitions on sale, distribution, or use of SGARs by the general public or retail outlets.
- Allowances or exemptions for licensed applicators, public health agencies, or specific municipal uses, potentially with mandatory conditions (e.g., integrated pest management, bait placement restrictions).
- Requirements for labeling, storage, and secure placement to reduce non‑target exposure.
- Mandatory reporting or recordkeeping for sales/use (reports to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection or another state agency).
- Requirements for safe disposal of unused product and contaminated bait/waste.
- Civil penalties/fines and enforcement mechanisms for violations.
- A mandate for the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to adopt implementing regulations and possibly to prepare periodic progress/impact reports.
Who would be affected
- Manufacturers and distributors of rodenticides.
- Retailers selling pest control products.
- Pest control professionals and licensed applicators (possible new compliance obligations).
- Municipalities and public‑health vector control programs (may require procedural changes).
- Wildlife, domestic animals, and public health outcomes (aimed at reducing secondary poisoning).
- State environmental and enforcement agencies (administrative and enforcement workload).
Procedural / Timeline status
- Introduced: 2025‑02‑10; referred to Joint Committee on Environment.
- Public hearing held: 2025‑02‑19.
- Joint Favorable Substitute: 2025‑02‑28.
- Filed with LCO: 2025‑03‑03.
- Referred to OLR & OFA: 2025‑03‑11 (for analysis).
- Reported out of LCO and Favorable Report: 2025‑03‑18; Tabled for House Calendar (House Calendar No. 97; File No. 112).
Next steps would include House floor consideration and, if passed, Senate action and gubernatorial approval. The effective date and specific compliance timelines would be set in the bill text or implementing regulations.
Potential impacts (expected)
- Environmental: likely reduction in secondary poisoning incidents among raptors, scavengers, and predatory mammals.
- Public health & pest control: possible shift toward alternative rodent control methods (mechanical traps, first‑generation products, integrated pest management).
- Economic/Administrative: compliance costs for industry and additional regulatory workload for DEEP or other agencies.
For exact requirements, exemptions, penalties, and effective dates, consult the bill text and any titled substitute or fiscal/legal analyses prepared by the Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis.
