Changes to pesticide product registration advanced

Lawmakers gave first-round approval April 19 to a bill that would remove the specialty pesticide designation from pesticide product registration.

Currently, pesticides classified as specialty are charged a registration fee of $160 per product while nonspecialty pesticides are charged a fee of $200. LB69, introduced by Ogallala Sen. Ken Schilz, would remove the specialty classification and establish an annual registration fee of $160 for all pesticide products.

Schilz said the change to one registration fee would simplify the collection process.

The bill makes several additional changes, some of which include:
• updating contaminant levels in drinking water under the Safe Drinking Water Act;
• updating a reference relating to the state Department of Agriculture’s authority with regard to designating pesticide applicator categories; and
• requiring that the renewal of an aerial pesticide business license is completed before the filing of a pesticide registration application.

Senators advanced the bill on a 26-0 vote.