Bill > HB1285

This bill aims to enhance public safety by addressing pesticide use near schools and public parks. It requires the Department of Agriculture to report restricted use pesticides using consistent units of measurement, making the information more clear and standardized for the public. More significantly, the bill expands the buffer zone for restricted use pesticides from 100 feet to one-half mile around schools and state or county public parks, starting January 1, 2025. The legislature's rationale is based on scientific research showing that pesticides can drift up to 0.8 miles from their application site and potentially cause neurological deficits and acute health effects in children. The bill references previous legislative action, such as the 2018 ban on chlorpyrifos, and seeks to further protect public health by creating more extensive protective zones around areas with high numbers of children. The new regulations will apply to restricted use pesticides, with an exception for whole structure fumigation, and in cases of conflicting label instructions, the more restrictive provision will take precedence.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1285&year=2025