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Last Action

Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House2025-02-11

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language Summary

The Pollinator Protection Act restricts the retail sale and general use of neonicotinoid pesticides in North Carolina to licensed pesticide applicators, farmers, and veterinarians. The bill defines neonicotinoids as a class of systemic insecticides and requires the Pesticide Board to monitor EPA assessments and study seed treatment regulations.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue that neonicotinoid pesticides are harming honeybees, bumblebees, and other pollinators at record rates, threatening the one-third of North Carolina's food supply that depends on pollination.
• •They contend that restricting these chemicals to trained professionals protects both agricultural productivity and the broader ecosystem while still allowing legitimate agricultural and pest control uses.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may argue that restricting neonicotinoid availability could increase costs for farmers and consumers, limit options for controlling agricultural pests, or duplicate federal EPA regulations already in place.
• •They may also contend that the scientific evidence linking neonicotinoids to pollinator decline is mixed, and that restrictions could disadvantage North Carolina farmers compared to those in states with fewer limitations.