Colorado State Update

This week, our Colorado SPAR participated in a panel discussion over the topic of local versus state regulation of pesticides in the state. The Interim Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee held a meeting on September 12th and members of an applicator coalition, including CPCA, spoke on a panel about the importance of retaining statewide pesticide regulation. Additional speakers included two county commissioners who argued that local governments do not have the resources or expertise to properly implement pesticide policy. Another important speaker was a pesticide safety instructor at Colorado State University, who argued that a patchwork of local regulations presents a cumbersome web of regulations that would be difficult for pest management professionals to follow. NPMA and CPCA will continue to educate Colorado elected officials on the importance of maintaining statewide preemption.