04/28/2026

MSPCA Recognizes Charlie Barton, ACE for Outstanding Service as SPAR

MSPCA would like to recognize the efforts of one of its members who consistently goes above and beyond to serve our industry—Maryland State Policy Affairs Representative (SPAR) Charlie Barton, ACE of American Pest. Charlie has done a tremendous amount of work on behalf of the industry during the legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly.

As part of NPMA’s regulatory program, a SPAR serves as both a policy leader and a representative for the industry when facing legislative and regulatory challenges. SPARs stay informed on key issues by attending stakeholder meetings, engaging with legislative and regulatory leaders, and leveraging their networks to gather and share information. They also serve as a liaison between their state association’s board and NPMA.

During this busy General Assembly session, Charlie closely monitored legislative activity and weighed in on Maryland House Bill 1237, which had the potential to be highly burdensome for our industry. The bill would have required Pest Management Professionals (PMPs) serving “subscription customers” to inspect properties before each pesticide application; communicate non-chemical findings and recommendations; use the least toxic effective pesticide when necessary; and document all inspections, recommendations, and communications. Additionally, the bill proposed the creation of a pollinator protection registry that would require consumers to notify their neighbors—by phone or in writing—the day before or the day of nearby applications.

This proposal was clearly a non-starter for our industry. Charlie, along with a committee of MSPCA members, helped draft formal opposition to the bill and delivered testimony before the Environment and Transportation Committee. As MSPCA President Brett Lieberman reported to the Board, “Charlie delivered a clear, concise, and well-articulated explanation of our industry’s opposition to the bill, citing its redundancy, regulatory overreach, privacy risks, and significant cost impacts on Maryland residents and small businesses.” Ultimately, the bill did not pass out of committee.

In addition to this effort, Charlie monitored other legislative proposals, attended NPMA’s Legislative Day, and served as the lead spokesperson for the Maryland delegation as they brought our message to Capitol Hill.

On behalf of the Board and the industry, Brett would like to thank Charlie for his dedication and leadership in support of MSPCA’s advocacy efforts. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have Charlie serve as MSPCA’s SPAR.

If you are interested in watching Charlie’s testimony, please follow this link. The bill is introduced around the 38:45 mark in the recording, and our panel begins testimony at approximately 1:00:10.