103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB4814

 

Introduced 2/6/2024, by Rep. Daniel Didech

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
415 ILCS 60/13.6 new

    Amends the Illinois Pesticide Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, no person shall sell offer for sale or use, or distribute within the State any corn, soybean, or wheat seed that is treated or coated with a pesticide that has certain active ingredients, unless the Department of Agriculture suspends that requirement after determining that either (i) there is a commercially insufficient amount of seed that does not violate that requirement or (ii) the purchase of seed that complies with requirement would result in an undue financial hardship for agricultural producers. Sets out limitations on the application of pesticides containing the same active ingredients on outdoor ornamental plants and turf except in specified circumstances. Directs the Department to conduct a study to identify alternatives to the prohibited pesticides. Effective immediately.


LRB103 38370 JAG 68505 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4814LRB103 38370 JAG 68505 b

1    AN ACT concerning safety.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. References to Act. This Act may be referred to
5as the Birds and Bees Protection Act.
 
6    Section 5. The Illinois Pesticide Act is amended by adding
7Section 13.6 as follows:
 
8    (415 ILCS 60/13.6 new)
9    Sec. 13.6. Protecting critical bird and bee species.
10    (a) Beginning January 1, 2027, no person shall sell, offer
11for sale or use, or distribute within the State any corn,
12soybean, or wheat seed that is coated or treated with a
13pesticide that has as an active ingredient clothianidin,
14imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran, or acetamiprid,
15unless the Department, by written order, temporarily suspends
16the requirements of this subsection after determining, that
17either (i) there is a commercially insufficient amount of
18available seed that has not been treated with a pesticide that
19contains clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam,
20dinotefuran, or acetamiprid or (ii) the purchase of seed that
21complies with the requirements of this subsection would result
22in undue financial hardship for agricultural producers. The

 

 

HB4814- 2 -LRB103 38370 JAG 68505 b

1Department shall publish its first written determination on or
2before the October 1 that immediately follows the effective
3date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly and
4shall by October 1 of each year thereafter reevaluate the
5determination and publish a written directive describing
6whether there will be a temporary suspension of the
7prohibition under this subsection in the following year. Any
8temporary suspension order shall specify the type of seed
9included and shall apply for one calendar year.
10    (b)(1) Notwithstanding any other law, no person shall
11apply or treat outdoor ornamental plants and turf, except for
12the production of agricultural commodities, with a pesticide:
13        (A) beginning July 1, 2025, if the pesticide has
14    imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, or acetamiprid as an active
15    ingredient; and
16        (B) beginning on the effective date of this amendatory
17    Act of the 103rd General Assembly, if the pesticide has
18    clothianidin or dinotefuran as an active ingredient.
19    (2) The provisions of this subsection do not apply if the
20Director, by written order, determines that:
21        (A) a valid environmental emergency exists;
22        (B) the pesticide would be effective in addressing the
23    environmental emergency; and
24        (C) no other less harmful pesticide or pest management
25    practice would be effective in addressing the
26    environmental emergency.

 

 

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1    (3) An order under this subsection (b) shall include the
2basis for the Director's determination and shall specify the
3approved time period, geographic scope, and purpose of the
4permitted use of the pesticide. An order issued under this
5subsection shall be valid for a period not to exceed one year.
6    (4) The provisions of this subsection (b) do not apply to
7pesticide applications by, or under the supervision of, a
8certified applicator for treatment against invasive species in
9woody plants.
10    (5) As used in this subsection, "environmental emergency"
11means an occurrence of any pest which presents a significant
12risk of harm or injury to the environment or significant harm,
13injury, or loss to agricultural crops, including, but not
14limited to, any exotic or foreign pest that may require
15preventative quarantine measures to avert or prevent that
16risk, as determined by the Department of Agriculture.
17    (c) The Department shall conduct a study to identify
18practicable and feasible alternatives to the use of pesticides
19containing the active ingredients clothianidin, imidacloprid,
20thiamethoxam, dinotefuran, and acetamiprid. The results of the
21study shall be submitted to the Governor and General Assembly
22on or before January 1, 2027 and shall be posted on the
23Department's public website.
 
24    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
25becoming law.