HB 1284 Summary

• Establishes seed labeling requirements for cool season lawn and turf grasses, including mandatory headings for "Pure Seed" and "Germination" and maximum weed seed content of 2.5% by weight with restricted noxious weed seeds not exceeding 0.25% by weight.

• Allows the seed commissioner to issue special use permits for use of prohibited or restricted noxious weed seeds for research, development, production, or education purposes.

• Provides differentiated labeling requirements for vegetable seeds based on container size and packaging type, with simpler labeling for packets and pre-planted containers of one pound or less.

• Increases seed inspection fees and changes reporting requirements from quarterly to semiannual (June 30 and December 31 deadlines) with minimum inspection fee of $10 per reporting period and minimum penalty of $50 or 10% of amount due for late payment.

• Prohibits use of relabeling stickers that lack required germination test dates and sell-by dates matching the original lot number, and prohibits relabeling a seed lot more than once with stickers.