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HB 1431 · 2026 · House · Environment and Agriculture Committee

Restricting neonicotinoid pesticide use

AI-generated

restricting the use of neonicotinoid pesticides.

Directs the pesticide control board to reclassify certain neonicotinoid pesticides as restricted use and adopt rules limiting their application on lawns, gardens, and state property, with listed exemptions for pest control, agriculture, research, and other specific uses.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (Senate) · April 14, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill restricts the use of neonicotinoid pesticides and requires the department of agriculture, markets, and food to create an educational program about the use of such pesticides and alternatives.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. John MacDonaldRPrimeVice Chair· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Karel CrawfordRClerk· Transportation
  • Rep. Hope DamonDDeputy Ranking Member· Education Funding
  • Rep. Jim MaggioreDDeputy Ranking Member· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Katy PeternelRVice Chair· Education Policy and Administration

Also: Rep. Rosemarie RungD

Public testimony

348 signed in online · 147 wrote testimony

97% support3% oppose1% neutral

ForHarm to pollinators and beneficial insects

AgainstPesticide regulation belongs with existing regulatory agencies, not the legislature

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I strongly support this bill. We must restrict and eliminate all use of neonicotinoid insecticides. Our State relies on tourism revenue, but people will not want to visit NH if they're unable to swim because our lakes are polluted. It only takes one mistake to ruin our lakes.…”
— LILLIANE LEBEL, Templesupports
“Neonicotinoids can leach into soil, groundwater, and runoff water, disrupting aquatic food webs by harming insects and zooplankton, and creating conditions that favor algal and harmful cyanobacteria blooms.…”
— Alexander Campbell, Sandwichsupports
“Limiting the use of neonicotinoid pesticides to trained applicators is one more step to protect soil, groundwater, runoff water, disruption of aquatic food webs by harming insects and zooplankton, and creation of conditions that favor algal and harmful cyanobacteria blooms.…”
— Noreen Downs, Madisonsupports
“I and my family own and operate Poverty Lane Orchards and Farnum Hill Ciders in Lebanon, NH. I have held a Restricted Use Permit from NH Pesticide Control since the program first began.…”
— STEPHEN WOOD, Lebanonopposes
“Protect the pollinators by restricting the use of this poison in the NH state environment”
— Anne Wenniger, Fitzwilliamopposes
“Pesticide use should be regulated by the NH Department of Agriculture , Markets and Food Pesticide Control Board, not the NH legislature. Pesticide sale and use regulations are based on EPA label restrictions.…”
— erick sawtelle, Leeopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-01-139:00 amHouse Environment and AgricultureGP 153Public hearing
  • 2026-01-2010:00 amHouse Environment and AgricultureGP 153Public hearing
  • 2026-01-2710:00 amHouse Environment and AgricultureGP 153Public hearing
  • 2026-02-039:15 amHouse Environment and AgricultureGP 153Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2026-04-079:00 amSenate Energy and Natural ResourcesSH 103Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Environment and Agriculture HJ 1 P. 20
  2. Jan 13, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/13/2026 09:00 am GP 153
  3. Jan 20, 2026HouseFull Work Session: 01/20/2026 10:00 am GP153
  4. Jan 27, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 01/27/2026 10:00 am GP 153
  5. Feb 3, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/03/2026 09:15 am GP 153
  6. Feb 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/03/2026 09:15 am GP 153
  7. Feb 3, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0465h 02/03/2026 (Vote 13-2; CC) HC 7 P. 11
  8. Feb 19, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0465h: AA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 15
  9. Feb 19, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0465h: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 16
  10. Feb 19, 2026HouseReferred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 38
  11. Feb 24, 2026HouseReferral Waived by Committee Chair per House Rule 47(f) 02/24/2026 HJ 5 P. 127
  12. Mar 5, 2026SenIntroduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 6
  13. Apr 7, 2026SenHearing: 04/07/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:10 am; SC 13
  14. Apr 16, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 04/16/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 14A
  15. Apr 16, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 04/16/2026; SJ 9

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.