Bill > H5704

This bill creates a voluntary Rodent Integrated Pest Management (IPM) pilot program for municipalities, with the goal of developing more environmentally-friendly and comprehensive approaches to rodent control. The legislation introduces significant restrictions on anticoagulant rodenticides, prohibiting the sale of first-generation rodenticides in consumer stores by March 1, 2026, and second-generation rodenticides by January 1, 2027. The pilot program, which will begin no later than July 1, 2026, requires participating municipalities to designate specific rodent mitigation zones and conduct detailed monthly inspections before and after implementing an integrated pest management approach. Municipalities must track interventions, document rodent signs, and submit a comprehensive report to the Department of Environmental Management within three months of the program's completion. The bill defines integrated pest management as a science-based approach that includes addressing sanitation, landscaping, promoting natural predators, and using alternatives to chemical pesticides, such as rodent contraceptives. An Integrated Pest Management Fund will be established to help municipalities cover program costs, with the department seeking grants and philanthropic funding. The pilot program is set to sunset on October 1, 2028, unless the General Assembly chooses to extend it, providing an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of this alternative rodent control strategy.

Housing and Urban Affairs

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