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HB 625

Justice Administrative Commission

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jessica Baker

Restricts retail sales and public use of neonicotinoid pesticides to protect pollinators, directing monitoring of EPA risk assessments and studying seed treatments for possible con

Chapter No. 2026-141
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Bill Summary · HB 625

Summary — HB 625: The Pollinator Protection Act

Status: Introduced (text provided). Primary focus: reduce risks to pollinators from neonicotinoid pesticides and study/limit related uses (seed treatments).

Purpose and intent
- To protect pollinators (honeybees, bumblebees, other beneficial insects and broader food chains) by restricting public access to and non‑agricultural use of neonicotinoid pesticides, by directing regulatory monitoring and study, and by prompting potential statutory or regulatory changes based on EPA risk assessments and state study results.

Key provisions
- Definition:
- Adds a statutory definition of “neonicotinoid pesticide” and lists examples: imidacloprid, nithiazine, acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, and any other chemical the Pesticide Board designates as neonicotinoid.
- Exempts certain products (pet-care flea/tick products, personal care lice/bedbug products, and products regulated under the Structural Pest Control Act).

  • Retail sale restriction (G.S. 143‑443(a)):

    • Prohibits selling neonicotinoid pesticides at retail to the general public unless the seller is authorized to sell restricted‑use pesticides.

  • Use restriction (G.S. 143‑443(b)):

    • Prohibits use of neonicotinoid pesticides by the public except by:
    • Licensed pesticide applicators (or persons under their direct supervision);
    • Farmers (or persons supervised by a farmer) using the pesticide for agricultural purposes (crop, livestock, poultry, equine, or noncrop agricultural fields);
    • Veterinarians in the practice of veterinary medicine.

  • Pesticide Board duties:

    • Monitor the U.S. EPA’s final pollinator risk assessments for specific neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid, dinotefuran) as part of EPA registration reviews.
    • Within six months of EPA completing those final pollinator risk assessments, report to the Commissioner and the Environmental Review Commission on any needed legislative or regulatory changes to protect pollinators.

  • Seed treatment study:

    • Directs the Pesticide Board to study whether the State should regulate sale/use of seeds treated with systemic insecticides (including availability of untreated or lower‑rate treated seed). The study should consider treatment efficacy, scouting, pest pressure, thresholds, planting technologies, etc., and must be submitted to the Environmental Review Commission (deadline in the bill: November 1, 2023).

Effective dates and timing
- Sections defining neonicotinoids and the retail/use prohibitions (Sections 1 and 2 in the bill draft) become effective October 1, 2023; the remainder takes effect upon becoming law. (The bill ties the Pesticide Board reporting duty to the timing of EPA registration review completion.)

Who is affected
- Beekeepers, pollinators, and ecosystems (intended beneficiaries).
- Pesticide retailers and distributors (restrictions on retail sales to general public).
- Homeowners and general public (loss of direct retail access to neonicotinoids).
- Farmers and agricultural producers (retain ability to use for defined agricultural purposes).
- Licensed pesticide applicators and veterinarians (authorized users).
- Pesticide Board and Environmental Review Commission (new reporting/study tasks).

Potential impacts and considerations
- Environmental: expected reduction in non‑agricultural exposure of pollinators to systemic neonicotinoids; potential benefits to pollinator health.
- Agricultural/operational: could change pest‑management practices for growers and retail outlets; may increase reliance on licensed applicators or alternative pest controls.
- Market: may drive demand for untreated seeds or lower‑rate treatments if study/recommendations lead to market or regulatory changes.
- Regulatory: triggers state monitoring and potential legislative/regulatory follow‑up aligned with EPA risk assessments.

Note
- The bill text includes exemptions for certain veterinary and personal‑care uses and reserves further designation authority to the Pesticide Board for chemicals classified as neonicotinoids.

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

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