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SB 932

Combining offices of Legislative Auditor and State Auditor

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Laura Chapman

Restricts pesticide use on state-owned property to listed/registered products and mandates a model plan designating 20% of land as pesticide-free to protect pollinators.

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Bill Summary · SB 932

SB 932 — Pesticide and Pest Control: State‑Owned Property Pesticide Use Restrictions and Pollinator Habitat (Maryland)

Status & Timeline
- Bill number: SB 932 (Sponsor: Sen. Lewis Young)
- Introduced: Jan 27–28, 2025. Assigned to Education, Energy, and the Environment. Hearing scheduled Feb 18, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.
- Effective date in bill text: October 1, 2025 (if enacted).
- Fiscal note projects potential increased State expenditures beginning FY 2026; Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) can generally implement with existing resources.

Purpose / Intent
- To limit and specify what pesticides may be applied on State‑owned property and to require development and local adaptation of a model pesticide and pollinator habitat management plan to protect pollinators and designate pesticide‑free areas on State lands.

Key Definitions (selected)
- Listed pesticide: pesticides whose active ingredients are recommended on the USDA National List (organic regulations) or designated as “minimum risk pesticides” under FIFRA.
- Registered pesticide: pesticides registered by the U.S. EPA and labeled for lawn, garden, or ornamental use under FIFRA.
- Aesthetic pesticide: defined broadly to include chemicals used to control pests (pesticides, insecticides, herbicides).

Major Provisions
1. Restriction on pesticide applications on State‑owned property (new §5‑1102):
- Pesticides may be applied only if they are: (a) a listed pesticide; or (b) a registered pesticide used for specific purposes such as weed management, invasive species control, disease vector control, controlling biting/stinging insects or stinging plants, certain public utility vegetation maintenance, indoor‑foundation pest control, agricultural pests, or to address a pest outbreak posing an imminent public‑health threat or significant economic damage.
- If a registered pesticide is used to control a pest outbreak as described, the applicator must notify MDA within 30 days with reasons for the application.

  1. Model pesticide and pollinator habitat management plan (new §5‑1103):
    • MDA must develop a model plan for State‑owned and managed property. Each State unit managing a tract must work with MDA to adapt the model to that tract’s needs.
    • Model plan requirements include:
      • Designating at least 20% of unencumbered land on a tract as areas that may not be treated with any aesthetic pesticide.
      • Prohibiting pesticide uses except as authorized under the bill’s permitted purposes.
      • Prohibiting use of any pesticide known to be toxic to pollinators (even if “listed”), unless the Secretary of Agriculture determines a specific public‑health necessity.
      • Implementing MDA’s managed pollinator protection plan best practices for creating/maintaining pollinator habitat, at least matching the protection level of that plan.
      • When practicable, prioritizing native plants for pollinator habitat.
    • The model plan cannot compel actions inconsistent with federal, State, or local requirements.

Who/What Is Affected
- State agencies and units that manage State‑owned property (must adopt/adapt and follow the plan).
- Individuals and contractors applying pesticides on State property (subject to the allowed pesticide list and purposes, and to notification rules).
- Landscape, grounds‑maintenance, and pest‑control vendors who contract with the State (likely to change practices and products used).
- Pollinators and habitats (the intended beneficiaries).
- MDA (responsible for developing/advising on the model plan and oversight).

Fiscal & Operational Impact
- Fiscal note: overall State financial impact cannot be precisely estimated; likely increases in State expenditures (multiple funds) beginning FY 2026 related to implementation, adaptation, monitoring, training, or modified maintenance practices. MDA states it can generally implement the bill with current budgeted resources.
- Local governments: fiscal note indicates no material effect.
- Small businesses (e.g., landscape and pest control contractors): potentially meaningful impacts due to changes in allowable products and practices on State contracts.

Limitations / Clarifications
- The bill focuses on State‑owned property and does not change private property pesticide regulation.
- The model plan must be at least as protective as MDA’s existing managed pollinator protection plan and cannot require actions that would conflict with other legal requirements.

For further review
- See bill text (new Article — Agriculture, Subtitle 11, §§5‑1101 to 5‑1103) and the accompanying fiscal note for agency budget comments and implementation considerations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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