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S 547

Deacon Isaiah McKendly Covert

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ronnie Sabb

Establishes a statewide, ecologically based mosquito management plan using IPM, source reduction first, limited pesticides, PFAS ban, and public board oversight.

Introduced and adopted
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Bill Summary · S 547

Summary — S.547: An Act establishing an ecologically‑based mosquito management program in the Commonwealth to protect public health

Status: Introduced Feb 12, 2025. Hearing scheduled Oct 27, 2025 (1:00–5:00 PM, A‑1). Referred to Environment and Natural Resources. Primary sponsor: Sen. Joanne M. Comerford (with several state co‑petitioners).

Purpose

To create a statewide, science‑based, ecologically focused mosquito management program that protects public health from mosquito‑borne diseases (e.g., Eastern Equine Encephalitis, West Nile Virus) while minimizing ecological harm, impacts to pollinators, and the use of hazardous chemicals including PFAS‑containing pesticides.

Key provisions

  • Amend Chapter 252, Section 2 to add definitions (adulticiding, larviciding, source reduction, PFAS, disease vector, etc.).
  • Establish a Mosquito Management Board located in the Department of Food and Agriculture. Composition includes:
    • Agency representatives: DEP (chair), Department of Agriculture, Department of Fish and Game, Department of Public Health (2, one representing environmental health).
    • Five members appointed by the Secretary of Energy & Environmental Affairs representing conservation/rivers, beekeepers, native pollinator protection, a pesticides/mosquito control expert, and an ecological risk assessor (4‑year terms; max 2 terms).
  • Require the Board to prepare and maintain a statewide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) mosquito‑borne disease management plan emphasizing ecological approaches and least‑toxic chemical use.
    • Source reduction (removal of artificial standing water, wetland/stream restoration) is the preferred strategy.
    • Larvicides allowed only where disease‑bearing mosquitoes are present and after source reduction has been implemented.
    • Adulticides limited to situations where all other measures have been tried and disease risk is assessed as high or critical by DPH.
    • Aerial application of adulticides is prohibited.
    • Ground adulticide applications limited to places where mosquito‑borne disease is detected in the current year (in mosquitoes, animals, or humans).
    • Use of larvicides or adulticides containing PFAS or other fluorinated compounds is prohibited.
  • Public process requirements: draft plan posted in the Environmental Monitor with a 60‑day public comment period; plan updated at least every 3 years; annual local operational plans must align with the statewide plan.
  • The Board will review and certify local mosquito control plans, monitor disease risks, advise the governor on public health emergencies, and may run programs when large areas are affected.

Who or what is affected

  • Mosquito control districts/projects, municipalities, and any public agencies conducting mosquito management (must adhere to the statewide plan).
  • Public health authorities (DPH) and environmental agencies (DEP, DFG, DAF).
  • Stakeholders: residents, livestock, pollinators and beekeepers, conservation groups, pesticide manufacturers and applicators.
  • Potentially reduced use of chemical adulticides and elimination of PFAS‑containing products.

Potential impacts

  • Environmental/public‑health benefits: reduced non‑target impacts (pollinators, aquatic life), lowered PFAS release, and more preventive source‑reduction measures.
  • Operational changes and costs for local control programs to shift toward ecological and monitoring‑based strategies; possible limits on rapid, broad adulticiding responses except during high/critical disease threats.
  • Increased state oversight, standardized planning, and public transparency.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Draft plan requires 60‑day public comment and updates at least every 3 years.
  • The bill was introduced Feb 12, 2025 and has scheduled legislative hearings (Oct 27, 2025). The text in the provided file is truncated; the summary reflects the bill’s principal, available provisions.

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

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