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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 240 FILED ON: 1/7/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 950
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Carmine Lawrence Gentile
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act governing the use of pesticides containing the herbicide substance Glyphosate in the
Commonwealth.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex1/7/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/10/2025Colleen M. Garry36th Middlesex1/25/2025Adam J. Scanlon14th Bristol2/27/2025Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex2/26/2025 1 of 4
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 240 FILED ON: 1/7/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 950
By Representative Gentile of Sudbury, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 950) of
Carmine Lawrence Gentile and others relative to governing the use of pesticides containing the
herbicide substance Glyphosate in the Commonwealth. Environment and Natural Resources.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 813 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act governing the use of pesticides containing the herbicide substance Glyphosate in the
Commonwealth.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 132B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
2section 6K the following section:-
3 Section 6L. (a) No individual shall use a pesticide that contains the herbicide
4substance Glyphosate, unless the individual is appropriately licensed or authorized by the
5department pursuant to subsection (b).
6 The department’s licensure or authorization of an individual to use a pesticide
7containing said herbicide substance which has been registered as being for general use, shall be
8required when the pesticide is to be used on any land, whether or not the land is owned or 2 of 4
9controlled by the individual for any non-agricultural purpose or for the purpose of growing
10agricultural commodities.
11 (b) An individual who holds a valid certification, license or permit issued by the
12department as a certified applicator, commercial applicator, private applicator, licensed
13applicator or as an appropriate individual authorized by permit, may use a pesticide containing
14said herbicide substance, which is registered for a general use or restricted use, subject to
15compliance with all applicable provisions of this chapter and department regulations for the type
16of use such pesticide is classified.
17 If a pesticide that contains said herbicide substance is registered for a general
18use, an individual who holds a valid applicators license may use a pesticide containing said
19herbicide substance on any land without being under the direct supervision of another who is a
20certified applicator.
21 (c) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, when a
22pesticide contains said herbicide substance which is registered for general use, the following
23conditions on the sale of such pesticide to the public shall apply:
24 No person shall offer for sale, sell, retail, supply or make available any pesticide
25that contains said herbicide substance, to an individual who does not hold the appropriate
26department issued certification, license or permit under the prior subsection.
27 No person shall offer for sale, sell, supply, retail or allow the public, including
28its customers, to access or purchase any pesticide containing said herbicide substance without
29first verifying that a customer holds a valid department issued certification, license or permit. 3 of 4
30 No person shall sell, retail or supply any pesticide containing said herbicide
31substance to a customer, unless the delivery of such pesticide occurs on the premises of its
32registered
33 business establishment.
34 (d) A person desiring to register its the business establishment to sell, distribute,
35supply or provide to its customers any pesticide containing said herbicide substance shall make
36an application to the department. A person making an application for a registration or renewal of
37a registration, shall provide the information as required by the department, and pay the
38registration fee, not to exceed 25 dollars as established by regulation, for each business
39establishment to be registered.
40 Registrations or renewal of registrations, issued by the department shall be for a term
41not to exceed 1 year for each business establishment.
42 The department shall grant a registration, or renewal of a registration, pursuant to the
43terms, conditions and restrictions as provided under the regulations of the department, as it
44deems necessary and appropriate. A registration may be revoked at any time the department
45finds its terms, conditions and restrictions of the registration or applicable regulations are being
46violated.
47 (e) Nothing in this section shall preempt or limit the subcommittee of the pesticide
48board from registering any pesticide that contains said herbicide substance, or determining the
49classification of such pesticide as being for a general use or a restricted use. 4 of 4
50 If the subcommittee determines that a pesticide containing said herbicide
51substance should be registered for a restricted use under section 7, then a person using such
52pesticide, shall comply with all applicable provisions of this chapter and regulations for pesticide
53classified for restricted use.
54 The subcommittee may also determine that a pesticide containing said herbicide
55substance, which is classified for restricted use, also requires further limitations, which may
56include that such pesticide: (i) is restricted to certain individuals or groups, (ii) requires the
57department’s written permission prior to each use; or (iii) requires further restriction in any other
58manner.
59 (f) As used in this section, the words “Use a pesticide”, shall include the spraying,
60releasing, depositing or applying a pesticide containing said herbicide substance.
61 SECTION 2. The second paragraph of section 14 of said chapter 132B of the
62General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition is hereby amended by striking out, in
63lines 9 and 10, the words, “inclusive, or section 7A” and inserting in place thereof the following
64words:- inclusive, or section 6L, or section 7
65 SECTION 3. This act shall take effect 12 months after passage.