After years of hard work, the Pollinator Protection Act (SB 198 & HB 211) passed the Maryland General Assembly in 2016 with bi-partisan support. The law will go into effect on January 1, 2018! This law will protect our bees and other pollinators by restricting consumer use of harmful neonicotinoid pesticides. We owe a BIG thank you to our legislative champions, beekeepers, farmers, public health and environmental advocates and constituents who sent thousands of letters and emails to their legislators, made phone calls and visited offices.

The Pollinator Protection Act was the first bill of its kind to pass a state’s General Assembly in the nation, and represents a big step forward to protect our pollinators, public health and food supply. We hope this law will prompt other states – and the federal government – to reduce the use of toxic neonic pesticides.

Then in 2021, due to some retailers continuing to sell the banned consumer neonic-containing products, the Coalition returned to the Maryland General Assembly to pass a new bill to close a loophole from unclear language in the law. Thanks to the support of legislators, this loophole was corrected with passage of HB208/SB375.

Read more about the 2021 bill passage.

Read more about the 2016 Pollinator Protection Act.