Pesticide Bills in RI, Tenn.

 

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The Professional Landcare Network, or PLANET, is urging landscape industry people to fax letters opposing pesticide legislation in Rhode Island and Tennessee.

A Rhode Island bill would ban pesticides from “any public or private school” in the state. If approved, Rhode Island Senate Bill 769 would limit the ability of landscape professionals to combat insects, weeds and plant diseases, PLANET’s legislative arm says. The chemicals already in use are approved by state and federal agencies, the organization notes. PLANET also opposes a related Rhode Island bill that would let local governments pass their own pesticide ordinances.

In Tennessee, legislators are considering senate and house bills that would define a class of “non-restrictive herbicides.” Included in the category would be most weed-killing chemicals used in the landscape industry. If approved, the law would essentially “open the lawn care industry to anyone,” according to PLANET.
The group has prepared letters for landscape professionals to fax to representatives. To learn more, visit landcarenetwork.org and click under “legislation” in the lower left-hand corner.