The Pollinator Protection Act.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 84

Short Title: The Pollinator Protection Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Ager, Setzer, Harrison, and Prather (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
February 11, 2025
*H84-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ENACT THE POLLINATOR PROTECTION ACT OF 2025. 2
Whereas, pollination services, including by honeybees and numerous other 3
pollinators, are a vital part of agricultural production in North Carolina; and 4
Whereas, one-third of food produced in North America depends on pollination by 5
honeybees, including nearly 95 varieties of fruits and other foods of high nutritional value to all 6
of North Carolina's citizens; and 7
Whereas, over the past several years, documented incidents of col ony collapse 8
disorder and excessive honeybee mortality have been at a record high, with some beekeepers 9
losing large portions of their operations and suffering reduced production of their valuable honey; 10
and 11
Whereas, the State has undertaken numerous proje cts to improve pollinator health, 12
including the North Carolina Department of Transportation Wildflower Program to increase 13
pollinator habitats, establish pollinator habitats on Department of Agriculture and Consumer 14
Services research stations, and support bees through the Department of Agriculture and 15
Consumer Services Apiary Program; and 16
Whereas, scientists have linked the use of systemic neonicotinoid insecticides to the 17
rapid decline of honeybees and other pollinators and to the deterioration of pollinator health; and 18
Whereas, neonicotinoid insecticides are systemic insecticides that are absorbed into 19
treated plants and distributed throughout their vascular systems, which can render a plant, 20
including the roots, leaves, stems, flowers, nectar, pollen, and guttation fluid, toxic to insects; 21
and 22
Whereas, neonicotinoid insecticides cause sublethal effects, including impaired 23
foraging and feeding behavior, disorientation, weakened immunity, delayed larval development, 24
and increased susceptibility to viruses, d iseases, and parasites; and numerous studies have also 25
demonstrated acute, lethal effects from the application of these toxins; and 26
Whereas, bumblebees, beneficial insects of all kinds, and whole food chains of 27
aquatic invertebrates, insects, birds, bats, and other pollinators in North Carolina are at risk from 28
environmental contamination by highly persistent neonicotinoids; and 29
Whereas, scientists have also found that the use of neonicotinoids in seed treatment 30
is harmful to birds; Now, therefore, 31
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 32
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 143-460(25a) is recodified as G.S. 143-460(25b). 33
SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 143-460, as amended by subsection (a) of this section, is 34
further amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 35
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 84-First Edition
"(25a) The term "neonicotinoid pesticide" means any pesticide containing a chemical 1
belonging to the neonicotinoid class of chemicals , including, but not limited 2
to, the following: 3
a. Imidacloprid. 4
b. Nithiazine. 5
c. Acetamiprid. 6
d. Clothianidin. 7
e. Dinotefuran. 8
f. Thiacloprid. 9
g. Thiamethoxam. 10
h. Any other chemical designated by the Board as belonging to the 11
neonicotinoid class of chemicals. 12
The term does not include pet care products used to mitigate fleas, mites, ticks, 13
heartworms, or other animals harmful to the health of a domesticated animal, 14
personal care products used to mitigate lice or bedbugs, or any product 15
regulated under the North Carolina Structural Pest Control Act (Article 4C of 16
Chapter 106 of the General Statutes)." 17
SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 143-443(a) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 18
"(7) Any neonicotinoid pesticide to members of the public at retail , unless the 19
seller is authorized to sell a restricted use pesticide under this Article and 20
regulations adopted under the authority of this Article." 21
SECTION 2.(b) G.S. 143-443(b) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 22
"(8) For any person to use a neonicotinoid pesticide, unless the person is any of the 23
following: 24
a. A pesticide applicator licensed under Part 4 of this Article, or a person 25
working under the direct supervision of a pesticide applicator licensed 26
under Part 4 of this Article. 27
b. A farmer, or person working under the direct supervision of a farmer, 28
who uses the pesticide for agricultural purposes as defined in 29
G.S. 106-581.1, including crop production and production of 30
livestock, poultry, equine, or noncrop agricultural fields. 31
c. A veterinarian using the pesticide in the practice of veterinary 32
medicine." 33
SECTION 3. The Pesticide Board, with the assistance and input of the Pes ticide 34
Advisory Committee, shall monitor the final pollinator risk assessments undertaken by the United 35
States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) as part of the Registration Reviews for the 36
neonicotinoid pesticides imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid, and dinotefuran 37
and report on any legislative or regulatory changes necessary to protect pollinators within the 38
State, taking into account findings and any recommendations of the US EPA risk assessment. 39
The Board shall forward its report and recommendations for statutory and regulatory changes to 40
the Commissioner and the Environmental Review Commission within six months of the US 41
EPA's completion of the final pollinator risk assessments for neonicotinoid pesticides. 42
SECTION 4. The Pesticide Board shall study whether the State should have the 43
authority to regulate the use and sale of seeds treated with systemic insecticides, including 44
whether the State should require that untreated seeds and seeds treated at lower insecticide 45
application rates be available in the market. In conducting this study, the Board shall consider 46
the efficacy of seed treatment rates, scouting techniques, pest pressures, economic thresholds, 47
planting technology differences, and any other criteria the Board deems app ropriate. The Board 48
shall submit the results of the study, including any legislative recommendations, to the 49
Environmental Review Commission no later than November 1, 2025. 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 84-First Edition Page 3
SECTION 5. Sections 1 and 2 of this act become effective October 1, 2025. The 1
remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law. 2