H.B. 2025 Summary

• Establishes a nursery licensing program requiring persons selling nursery stock to obtain a valid license from the Department of Agriculture for each location where nursery stock is sold or grown.

• Requires nurseries to meet standards of cleanliness including implementation of pest management practices, isolation of infested stock, and freedom from pests of concern, with inspections conducted by the department.

• Creates exemptions for temporary nursery licenses (non-profit organizations selling for limited periods with limited sales) and small seller licenses (persons with annual sales below a specified threshold), both requiring stock sourced from licensed nurseries.

• Authorizes the department to issue stop-sale or quarantine orders for affected nursery stock and to deny, suspend, or revoke licenses for non-compliance with pest control requirements or other program standards.

• Establishes civil penalties of up to a specified amount per violation and requires all fees and fines be deposited into the pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fund; effective July 1, 2024.