An Act to Require Notification of Certain Outdoor Pesticide
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0356
Sponsors: BENNETT
Amends: 7 MRSA §604, 7 MRSA §606

Legislative Document
No. 356
S.P. 142
In Senate, February 3, 2025
An Act to Require Notification of Certain Outdoor Pesticide 
Applications
(EMERGENCY)
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on January 30, 2025.  Referred to the Committee 
on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BENNETT of Oxford.
Cosponsored by Senator: GROHOSKI of Hancock, Representatives: BELL of Yarmouth, 
CIMINO of Bridgton, DOUDERA of Camden, EDER of Waterboro, MILLIKEN of Blue Hill.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Board of 
Pesticides Control establishes procedures and standards for informing interested members 
of the public about outdoor pesticide applications in their vicinity; and
Whereas, the purpose of these procedures and standards is to safeguard the health and 
welfare of the residents of this State; and
Whereas, this legislation must take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period 
because this legislation amends those procedures and standards; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  7 MRSA §604, sub-§25-B is enacted to read:
25-B.  Pet.  "Pet" has the same meaning as in section 712, subsection 16.
Sec. 2.  7 MRSA §606, sub-§2, ¶D, as amended by PL 2005, c. 620, §5, is further 
amended to read:
D.  Handle, transport, store, display or distribute pesticides in such a manner as to 
endanger human beings or their pets or their environment or to endanger food, feed or 
any other products that may be transported, stored, displayed or distributed with such 
pesticides;
Sec. 3.  7 MRSA §606, sub-§2, ¶E, as amended by PL 2005, c. 620, §5, is further 
amended to read:
E.  Dispose of, discard or store any pesticides or pesticide containers in such a manner 
as may cause injury to humans, vegetation, crops, livestock or pets, wildlife or 
beneficial insects or pollute any water supply or waterway;
Sec. 4.  7 MRSA §606, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4.  Unlawful use without proper notification.  A person may not use any pesticide 
outdoors within 500 feet of a property owned by another person unless the person provides 
written notification to the owner, lessee or other legal occupant of the property of the intent 
to apply pesticides at least 7 days prior to the pesticide application.  This subsection does 
not apply to aerial applicators as defined by the board by rule. The department shall adopt 
rules governing notification requirements.  Rules adopted under this subsection are routine 
technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill prohibits a person from using any pesticide outdoors within 500 feet of a 
property owned by another person unless the person provides written notification to the 
owner, lessee or other legal occupant of the property of the intent to apply pesticides at 
least 7 days prior to the pesticide application.  The bill provides that this prohibition does 
not apply to aerial application of pesticides.  The bill also explicitly prohibits handling, 
transporting, storing, displaying or distributing pesticides in a manner that endangers pets 
and explicitly prohibits disposing of, discarding or storing any pesticides or pesticide 
containers in a manner that may cause injury to pets.