HB 1227 Summary

• Creates civil penalty authority allowing the agriculture commissioner or courts to impose penalties up to $2,500 per violation of fertilizer, soil amendment, and plant amendment regulations.

• Expands product registration requirements to include fertilizer materials, micronutrients, and specialty fertilizers; increases late renewal penalties from $25 to $100 per product.

• Increases distributor license fees from $100 to $100 and late renewal penalties from $20 to $100 per location; exempts distributors selling only specialty fertilizers or seed inoculants.

• Increases inspection fee late payment penalties and establishes new late filing fees ($35) for tonnage reports submitted after January 31st.

• Repeals sections related to the agriculture commissioner's role, protected information, rulemaking, and storage and fees provisions in the fertilizer laws.