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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1276 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 625
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Jason M. Lewis
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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 :Jason M. LewisFifth MiddlesexAdam J. Scanlon14th Bristol3/4/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester3/4/2025Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester3/10/2025 1 of 4
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1276 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 625
By Mr. Lewis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 625) of Jason M. Lewis, Adam J.
Scanlon, James B. Eldridge and Michael O. Moore for legislation to govern the use of pesticides
containing the herbicide substance glyphosate in the Commonwealth. Environment and Natural
Resources.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 516 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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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 substance
4Glyphosate, unless the individual is appropriately licensed or authorized by the department
5pursuant to subsection (b).
6 The department’s licensure or authorization of an individual to use a pesticide containing
7said herbicide substance which has been registered as being for general use, shall be required
8when the pesticide is to be used on any land, whether or not the land is owned or controlled by 2 of 4
9the individual for any non-agricultural purpose or for the purpose of growing agricultural
10commodities.
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 use, an
18individual who holds a valid applicators license may use a pesticide containing said herbicide
19substance on any land without being under the direct supervision of another who is a certified
20applicator.
21 (c) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, when a pesticide
22contains said herbicide substance which is registered for general use, the following conditions on
23the sale of such pesticide to the public shall apply:
24 No person shall offer for sale, sell, retail, supply or make available any pesticide that
25contains said herbicide substance, to an individual who does not hold the appropriate department
26issued certification, license or permit under the prior subsection.
27 No person shall offer for sale, sell, supply, retail or allow the public, including its
28customers, to access or purchase any pesticide containing said herbicide substance without first
29verifying 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 substance to
31a customer, unless the delivery of such pesticide occurs on the premises of its registered
32 business establishment.
33 (d) A person desiring to register its the business establishment to sell, distribute, supply
34or provide to its customers any pesticide containing said herbicide substance shall make an
35application to the department. A person making an application for a registration or renewal of a
36registration, shall provide the information as required by the department, and pay the registration
37fee, not to exceed 25 dollars as established by regulation, for each business establishment to be
38registered.
39 Registrations or renewal of registrations, issued by the department shall be for a term not
40to exceed 1 year for each business establishment.
41 The department shall grant a registration, or renewal of a registration, pursuant to the
42terms, conditions and restrictions as provided under the regulations of the department, as it
43deems necessary and appropriate. A registration may be revoked at any time the department
44finds its terms, conditions and restrictions of the registration or applicable regulations are being
45violated.
46 (e). Nothing in this section shall preempt or limit the subcommittee of the pesticide board
47from registering any pesticide that contains said herbicide substance, or determining the
48classification of such pesticide as being for a general use or a restricted use.
49 If the subcommittee determines that a pesticide containing said herbicide substance
50should be registered for a restricted use under section 7, then a person using such pesticide, shall 4 of 4
51comply with all applicable provisions of this chapter and regulations for pesticide classified for
52restricted use.
53 The subcommittee may also determine that a pesticide containing said herbicide
54substance, which is classified for restricted use, also requires further limitations, which may
55include that such pesticide: (i) is restricted to certain individuals or groups, (ii) requires the
56department’s written permission prior to each use; or (iii) requires further restriction in any other
57manner.
58 (f) As used in this section, the words “Use a pesticide”, shall include the spraying,
59releasing, depositing or applying a pesticide containing said herbicide substance.
60 SECTION 2. The second paragraph of section 14 of said chapter 132B of the General
61Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 9 and
6210, the words, “inclusive, or section 7A” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-
63inclusive, or section 6L, or section 7
64 SECTION 3. This act shall take effect 12 months after passage.