By Julie Marlette, NEAFA Lobbyist
Last month, after several long days of negotiations, Governor Hochul and the Legislature came to an agreement on a series of changes to the neonic bill that will be adopted next session. Upon reaching this agreement, the Governor did sign the bill, Chapter 775 of the Laws of 2023.
In her approval message, the governor stated, “While I am supportive of this bill, there were changes needed to ensure the DEC and the Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) can successfully implement this new law while allowing New York's agriculture sector to continue operations. Changes were necessary to provide DEC and AGM with regulatory authority to develop a waiver process for farmers to address problem pests, to provide additional time for the regulated community, many of which are already taking steps to move towards more sustainable and integrated pest management practices, to come into compliance with this law, and to make technical changes so that DEC and AGM can successfully implement this nation leading law.
I have reached an agreement with the Legislature to enact these changes. On the basis of this agreement, I am pleased to sign this bill.”
Our understanding is that the details of the agreed to changes include:
Delaying implementation for several additional years.
Authorizing the Departments of Environmental Conservation and Agriculture and Markets establish regulations that would for a waiver process that will allow some farmers to use treated seeds.
Our understanding is that this waiver would be renewable.
Because this process would be established in regulation, stakeholders will have additional opportunities to comment.
Because this bill was signed, the next step will be for the legislature to introduce and pass the agreed upon changes in a new piece of legislation. We will keep you informed when that bill is introduced (likely after the first of the year), and of its movement through the legislative process.