Bill > H985

This bill establishes a comprehensive, ecologically-based mosquito management program in Massachusetts to protect public health by creating a Mosquito Management Board responsible for developing and overseeing a statewide Integrated Pest Management plan. The board will consist of representatives from various state departments and external stakeholders, including experts in conservation, beekeeping, pollinator protection, and pesticide management. The proposed plan emphasizes prevention and ecological approaches to mosquito control, prioritizing source reduction (eliminating standing water and restoring natural habitats) over chemical interventions. Key provisions include limiting larvicide and adulticide use, prohibiting aerial pesticide spraying, banning pesticides containing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), and only using chemical treatments when absolutely necessary to protect public health. The board will conduct mosquito surveillance, provide public education about disease prevention, and allow municipalities and landowners to opt out of pesticide treatments except during declared public health emergencies. The plan must be updated every three years with public input, and the board will annually publish its activities, expenditures, and the effectiveness of mosquito control efforts on the state's website.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H985