House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

On July 11, 2022, S.B. 251 was signed into law as Chapter 68 under Act 83, which updated the PA Fertilizer Law. Due to last minute amendments to then S.B. 251, a number of errors were passed into law. To address these errors, I will be introducing legislation amending Act 83 of July 11, 2022 (P.L. 1538, No. 83). 

 

An example of one such error is found in Section 6813(b), where it states that no person may apply fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphorus to turf between December 15 and March 1, unless it is applied by a certified applicator.  Since there are no certified applicators, legislation is needed to correct this error and allow citizens to apply fertilizer, but at a reduced rate. 

 

There are several other items that need to be corrected, such as removing the “Pesticide applicator” definition, since it is not used anywhere in the law, while adding a definition for “Sanitized,” which relates back to the definition of compost.  Most compost is not classified as “sanitary,” so clarity is needed to show that the compost is not considered sterile, but instead has undergone a process that would have sanitized the material, as defined here. 

 

Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation to improve recent updates to Pennsylvania’s Fertilizer Act for the benefit of Pennsylvania’s ag economy.