Rep. Setzer files bill in North Carolina House to protect pollinators

A new bill filed by State Rep. Mitchell S. Setzer in the North Carolina House seeks to safeguard pollinators by regulating neonicotinoid pesticide sales and use, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 84 on Feb. 10 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘The Pollinator Protection Act.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill, known as the Pollinator Protection Act, aims to safeguard pollinators by restricting the sale and use of neonicotinoid pesticides in North Carolina, attributed to harming honeybees and other pollinators. It specifically defines neonicotinoid pesticides and designates certain chemicals within this class, excluding those related to pet and personal care. From Oct. 1, 2025, only licensed applicators, supervised workers, farmers, or veterinarians can use these pesticides, while retail sales to the public will require seller authorization for restricted use pesticides. The bill mandates the Pesticide Board to monitor the EPA’s pollinator risk assessments for neonicotinoids and recommend legislative changes. It further tasks the board with studying state regulation of seeds treated with systemic insecticides, reporting findings by Nov. 1, 2025.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Setzer proposed the most bills (seven) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Setzer graduated from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro in 1987 with a BA.

Setzer, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 1999 to represent the state’s 89th House district, replacing previous state representative Robert Brawley.