Bill > H84

Introduced Session

AN ACT TO ENACT THE POLLINATOR PROTECTION ACT OF 2025. Whereas, pollination services, including by honeybees and numerous other pollinators, are a vital part of agricultural production in North Carolina; and Whereas, one-third of food produced in North America depends on pollination by honeybees, including nearly 95 varieties of fruits and other foods of high nutritional value to all of North Carolina's citizens; and Whereas, over the past several years, documented incidents of colony collapse disorder and excessive honeybee mortality have been at a record high, with some beekeepers losing large portions of their operations and suffering reduced production of their valuable honey; and Whereas, the State has undertaken numerous projects to improve pollinator health, including the North Carolina Department of Transportation Wildflower Program to increase pollinator habitats, establish pollinator habitats on Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services research stations, and support bees through the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Apiary Program; and Whereas, scientists have linked the use of systemic neonicotinoid insecticides to the rapid decline of honeybees and other pollinators and to the deterioration of pollinator health; and Whereas, neonicotinoid insecticides are systemic insecticides that are absorbed into treated plants and distributed throughout their vascular systems, which can render a plant, including the roots, leaves, stems, flowers, nectar, pollen, and guttation fluid, toxic to insects; and Whereas, neonicotinoid insecticides cause sublethal effects, including impaired foraging and feeding behavior, disorientation, weakened immunity, delayed larval development, and increased susceptibility to viruses, diseases, and parasites; and numerous studies have also demonstrated acute, lethal effects from the application of these toxins; and Whereas, bumblebees, beneficial insects of all kinds, and whole food chains of aquatic invertebrates, insects, birds, bats, and other pollinators in North Carolina are at risk from environmental contamination by highly persistent neonicotinoids; and Whereas, scientists have also found that the use of neonicotinoids in seed treatment is harmful to birds; Now, therefore,

Committee Categories

Eric Ager (D)*,  Pricey Harrison (D)*,  Lindsey Prather (D)*,  Mitchell Setzer (R)*,  Amber Baker (D),  Cynthia Ball (D),  Mary Belk (D),  Gloristine Brown (D),  Kanika Brown (D),  Allen Buansi (D),  Laura Budd (D),  Deb Butler (D),  Maria Cervania (D),  Sarah Crawford (D),  Allison Dahle (D),  Julia Greenfield (D),  Ya Liu (D),  Carolyn Logan (D),  Nasif Majeed (D),  Marcia Morey (D),  Renée Price (D),  Julie Von Haefen (D), 

Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (on 02/11/2025)

Official Document