Senate Bill 709 aims to regulate the use of neonicotinoid pesticides in Wisconsin by prohibiting their application on outdoor ornamental plants, trees, or turf grown for noncommercial purposes. The bill specifies that such applications are only permissible if they are part of a tree injection, conducted by a certified applicator, or occur during the production of an agricultural commodity, which is defined as any plant, animal, or animal product produced primarily for sale, consumption, propagation, or other use by humans or animals.

Violations of this prohibition will result in penalties consistent with existing pesticide regulations, imposing a civil forfeiture ranging from $100 to $500 for the first offense and $200 to $1,000 for any subsequent violations within a five-year period. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and aims to enhance the regulation of pesticides to protect noncommercial gardening and landscaping practices.