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S 625

Relates to the timing of annual tax elections

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Nathalia Fernández and 1 co-sponsor

Imposes statewide licensing, registration, and sales restrictions for glyphosate pesticides, requiring credentials to use or purchase and registering each selling establishment.

PRINT NUMBER 625A
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Bill Summary · S 625

Summary — S.625 (Print 625A): Regulation of Pesticides Containing Glyphosate

Note on metadata: The bill text posted is titled “An Act governing the use of pesticides containing the herbicide substance glyphosate in the Commonwealth.” Some accompanying metadata (title “Relates to the timing of annual tax elections,” sponsor list, and related federal bill numbers) appears inconsistent with the text. This summary reflects the substantive language of the bill as provided.

Purpose

Establish new statewide controls on the sale and use of pesticides that contain the herbicide glyphosate by requiring departmental licensure/authorization for users, setting sales and retail conditions, requiring business registration, and preserving the pesticide board’s authority to further restrict glyphosate products.

Key provisions

  • Adds Section 6L to Chapter 132B (Mass. General Laws — Pesticides).
  • User licensing/authorization:
    • Prohibits any individual from using a glyphosate-containing pesticide unless they hold a department-issued certification, license, or permit (see subsection (b)).
    • Requirement applies whether or not the user owns or controls the land and covers non‑agricultural uses and growing agricultural commodities.
    • Persons holding valid credentials (certified applicator, commercial applicator, private applicator, licensed applicator, or permit‑authorized individuals) may use glyphosate products registered for general or restricted use in compliance with chapter and departmental regulations.
    • If a glyphosate pesticide is registered for general use, a licensed applicator may apply it without direct supervision by a certified applicator.
  • Sales and retail restrictions (when product is registered for general use):
    • Sellers may not offer or sell glyphosate-containing pesticides to individuals who do not hold the appropriate department-issued certification/license/permit.
    • Retailers must verify a customer’s valid credential before sale and may only deliver the pesticide on the premises of the retailer’s registered business establishment.
  • Business registration:
    • Any business selling, distributing, or supplying glyphosate-containing pesticides must register with the department.
    • Registration fee capped at $25 per establishment by regulation; registrations renewable yearly (term not to exceed 1 year); registrations may be revoked for violations.
  • Pesticide board authority:
    • The pesticide board’s subcommittee retains authority to register glyphosate products and to classify them as general or restricted use.
    • The subcommittee may impose additional limitations on restricted products (e.g., limit to certain individuals/groups, require written departmental permission prior to each use).
  • Definitions: “Use a pesticide” explicitly includes spraying, releasing, depositing, or applying.
  • Cross-reference: Amends section 14 of Chapter 132B to add Section 6L among referenced enforcement/penalty provisions.
  • Effective date: 12 months after passage.

Who would be affected

  • Homeowners and general consumers (would be prohibited from purchasing/using glyphosate products unless licensed).
  • Landscapers, groundskeepers, nurseries, landscaping contractors, and other commercial applicators (would need appropriate credentials and may face sales/delivery changes).
  • Retailers, garden centers, big-box stores and other sellers (must verify buyer credentials and register business establishments).
  • Farmers/agricultural users (require appropriate department certification to use glyphosate for commodity production).
  • State department responsible for pesticide regulation and the pesticide board/subcommittee (increased oversight, registration review, and enforcement duties).

Potential impacts

  • Reduces unlicensed public access to glyphosate products; shifts many purchases from over‑the‑counter sale to credentialed transactions.
  • Compliance costs for retailers (registration, verification systems) and for users (training/certification).
  • Possible reduction in non‑professional uses of glyphosate; enforcement burden on the regulatory department.
  • Leaves flexibility for further restrictions: the pesticide board’s subcommittee may impose stricter controls, including designation as restricted-use or case‑by‑case permissions.

If you want, I can: (a) extract and summarize the exact text of Section 6L line‑by‑line, (b) draft likely enforcement scenarios, or (c) prepare a one‑page memo on compliance steps for retailers and applicators.

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

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