By Representative Hawkins of Attleboro, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 965) of James K. Hawkins and others relative to the use of rodenticides. Environment and Natural Resources.
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Date
Branch
Action
3/12/2026
House
3/12/2026 HouseAccompanied a new draft, see H5217↗
1/20/2026
House
1/20/2026 HouseReporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026
10/16/2025
Joint
10/16/2025 JointHearing scheduled for 10/27/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
2/27/2025
Senate
2/27/2025 SenateSenate concurred
2/27/2025
House
2/27/2025 HouseReferred to the committee on Environment and Natural Resources
An Act restricting the use of rodenticides in the environment
Active
5 section(s) · formatted for easier reading
▸SECTION 1
Section 2 of chapter 132B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of “Animal” the following:-
“Anticoagulant rodenticide”, any pesticide product that has a mode of action that interferes with blood clotting including, but not limited to, the following active ingredients: Brodifacoum, Bromadiolone, Chlorophacinone, Difenacoum, Difethialone, Diphacinonon, or Warfarin.
▸SECTION 2
Section 5 of said chapter 132B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following paragraph:-
The department, with the approval of the board, shall by regulation establish a process and standards for the limited use of anticoagulant rodenticides by licensed applicators in public health emergencies, provided that such process and standards provide for one-time indoor use in a single location to address an urgent public health emergency, as determined by the state department of public health and such use shall: (i) be limited to 14 days; (ii) be accompanied by integrated pest management actions that include non-chemical methods and exclusionary measures to control rodents; (iii) require additional labeling of anticoagulant rodenticides used, including but not limited to, the name of the rodenticide clearly labeled on any bait box; (iv) require written rationale for the need for anticoagulant rodenticides over other non-toxic short-term alternatives; and (v) require applicators to report to the department after the 14-day emergency use period and include a plan for ongoing rodent control at the location.
Regulations shall also include provisions for the emergency use of anticoagulant rodenticides to protect drinking water supply, to control vectors for mosquito-borne illness, and for emergent infectious disease control.
▸SECTION 3
Section 7 of said chapter 132B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following paragraph:-
The subcommittee as established in section 3A of this chapter shall not register or reregister anticoagulant rodenticides, except that it may register or reregister anticoagulant rodenticides for emergency use, as provided by the department pursuant to section 5 of this chapter.
▸SECTION 4
The department shall report annually and include on its website information regarding the emergency use of anticoagulant rodenticides including, but not limited to, locations where the anticoagulant rodenticide was used, the types and amounts used, the contents of ongoing rodent control plans required in section 5 of chapter 132B, and relevant accompanying documents.
▸SECTION 5
This Act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
Show raw text
SECTION 1. Section 2 of chapter 132B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of “Animal” the following:-
“Anticoagulant rodenticide”, any pesticide product that has a mode of action that interferes with blood clotting including, but not limited to, the following active ingredients: Brodifacoum, Bromadiolone, Chlorophacinone, Difenacoum, Difethialone, Diphacinonon, or Warfarin.
SECTION 2. Section 5 of said chapter 132B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following paragraph:-
The department, with the approval of the board, shall by regulation establish a process and standards for the limited use of anticoagulant rodenticides by licensed applicators in public health emergencies, provided that such process and standards provide for one-time indoor use in a single location to address an urgent public health emergency, as determined by the state department of public health and such use shall: (i) be limited to 14 days; (ii) be accompanied by integrated pest management actions that include non-chemical methods and exclusionary measures to control rodents; (iii) require additional labeling of anticoagulant rodenticides used, including but not limited to, the name of the rodenticide clearly labeled on any bait box; (iv) require written rationale for the need for anticoagulant rodenticides over other non-toxic short-term alternatives; and (v) require applicators to report to the department after the 14-day emergency use period and include a plan for ongoing rodent control at the location.
Regulations shall also include provisions for the emergency use of anticoagulant rodenticides to protect drinking water supply, to control vectors for mosquito-borne illness, and for emergent infectious disease control.
SECTION 3. Section 7 of said chapter 132B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following paragraph:-
The subcommittee as established in section 3A of this chapter shall not register or reregister anticoagulant rodenticides, except that it may register or reregister anticoagulant rodenticides for emergency use, as provided by the department pursuant to section 5 of this chapter.
SECTION 4. The department shall report annually and include on its website information regarding the emergency use of anticoagulant rodenticides including, but not limited to, locations where the anticoagulant rodenticide was used, the types and amounts used, the contents of ongoing rodent control plans required in section 5 of chapter 132B, and relevant accompanying documents.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect January 1, 2027.