pesticides; sale; use; restrictions

HB2472 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
pesticides; sale; use; restrictions

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2472

Introduced by

Representatives
Sandoval: Abeytia, Aguilar, Austin, Blattman, Connolly, Contreras L,
Contreras P, Crews, Garcia, Liguori, Luna-N�jera, M�rquez, Mathis, Peshlakai,
Simacek, Stahl Hamilton, Tsosie, Villegas;� Senators Alston, Epstein,
Gabald�n, Kuby, Ortiz, Sundareshan

AN
ACT

Amending Title 3, chapter 2, article 5,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 3-342; amending section 3-362,
Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to pesticides.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 3, chapter 2, article 5,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 3-342, to read:

START_STATUTE
3-342.

Neonicotinoid pesticides; sale and use: violation;
classification; exceptions; definitions

A. A
person may not sell a neonicotinoid pesticide in this state unless the person
is licensed to sell a restricted use pesticide.

B. A
person may not use a neonicotinoid pesticide in this state unless the person is
one of the following:

1. A
certified applicator or a person working under the supervision of a certified
applicator.

2. A
veterinarian.

3. A
pressure-treated wood preserver.

C. A
violation of this section is a class 3 misdemeanor.

D. This
section does not apply to:

1. Pet
care products used to mitigate fleas, mites, ticks, heartworms or other pests
that are harmful to the health of domesticated animals.

2. Personal
care products used to mitigate lice and bedbugs.

3. Indoor
pest control products used to mitigate insects indoors, including ant bait.

4. Wood
preservatives or wood preservative products that contain neonicotinoid or other
similar pesticides used to treat wood products.

E. For
the purposes of this section:

1. "Certified
applicator" has the same meaning prescribed in section 3-3601.

2. "Neonicotinoid
pesticide" means any pesticide that contains a chemical belonging to the
neonicotinoid class of chemicals, including:

(
a
) Imidacloprid.

(
b
) Nithiazine.

(
c
) Acetamiprid.

(
d
) Clothianidin.

(
e
) Dinotefuran.

(
f
) Thiacloprid.

(
g
) Thiamethoxam.

(
h
) Any other chemical designated by the department as
belonging to the neonicotinoid class of chemicals.

3. "Restricted
use pesticide" has the same meaning prescribed in section 3-361.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 3-362, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
3-362.

Powers and duties

A. The director is responsible for administering
this article and shall:

1.
Conduct investigations,
On
receiving a
complaint
and

or
on
his
the director's
own
initiative,
regarding
investigate

violations of this article and compile information necessary to administer this
article.

2. Take timely action necessary to enforce this
article against violators
,
including seeking injunctive
relief and other penalties and sanctions authorized by this article.

3. Publish a list of pesticides, by common and
proprietary names,
which

that
the
director determines to be highly toxic
,
or
odoriferous, such as profenofos, sulprofos, def and merphos
and other pesticides with similar odoriferous characteristics, or
that are
otherwise appropriate for inclusion
.

and
The director
shall include in
that list paraquat and gramoxone.

4. Submit to the United States environmental
protection agency a state plan for issuing, monitoring
,

and controlling experimental use permits pursuant to section 5 of the federal
insecticide, fungicide, and rodenticide act (7 United States Code section
136c(f)).

5. incorporate pollinator habitat
expansion and enhancement practices into this state's managed pollinator
protection plan developed in coordination with the United States environmental
protection agency.

5.
6.
Develop
systems and procedures to encourage and ensure public contact with the
department, which may include:

(a) A telephone hotline for pesticide complaints
, which

that
is operated and publicized by
the department.

(b) Outreach and education programs to inform the
general public and solicit input regarding pesticide use
,

and
public health
,
and
safety and the environment.

B. The director may enter into intergovernmental
agreements pursuant to title 11, chapter 7, article 3 if the agreement is
necessary to more effectively administer the powers and duties described in
this article.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 3.
Arizona
department of agriculture; pesticide laws and rules; report; delayed repeal

A. The
Arizona department of agriculture shall:

1. Review
this state's pesticide laws and rules and recommend any changes necessary to
ensure that state laws and rules are protective of pollinators.

2. Address
the United States environmental protection agency recommendations from the risk
assessment for the neonicotinoid pesticides imidacloprid, clothianidin,
thiamethoxam and dinotefuran.

3. On
or before July 1, 2027, submit a report of the department's findings and
recommendations to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of
the house of representatives and provide a copy of this report to the secretary
of state.

B. This
section is repealed from and after September 30, 2028.

Sec. 4.
Effective date

This act is effective from and after
December 31, 2026.