By Blake Jackson
Missouri Senate Bill 105, sponsored by Senator Bernskoetter, seeks to ban the sale of five invasive plant species in Missouri.
The bill mandates that all nurseries and plant dealers submit an affidavit to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, certifying they will not import, export, buy, sell, transport, distribute, or propagate any seeds or plant parts of climbing euonymus (wintercreeper), Japanese honeysuckle, or sericea lespedeza after January 1, 2027. It also includes burning bush and Callery pear, which will be banned after January 1, 2029.
A public hearing for SB 105 will take place on Thursday, February 6, at 8:30 a.m. in Senate Committee Room 1, located on the first floor of the Missouri State Capitol.
Those wishing to testify in person must complete a form, available in the hearing room or printable online. Written testimony is not accepted during hearings.
If unable to attend, MoIP encourages supporters to contact members of the Senate Agriculture, Food Production, and Outdoor Resources Committee before or after the hearing to express their support for the bill.
The committee members to contact include: Committee Chair Jason.Bean@senate.mo.gov, Vice Chair Jamie.Burger@senate.mo.gov, SB 105 sponsor mike.bernskoetter@senate.mo.gov, and Senators sandy.crawford@senate.mo.gov, kurtis.gregory@senate.mo.gov, tracy.mccreery@senate.mo.gov, and barbara.washington@senate.mo.gov.
Key points to consider when supporting SB 105:
- The bill requires nurseries to commit to not selling or propagating five invasive plant species.
- Some critics claim it infringes on personal freedoms, but invasive plants harm property, agriculture, and industries, limiting landowners' freedom to grow what they want. Invasive species are costly to control and pose significant threats to various industries.
- The bill is not intended to harm plant growers or sellers. It addresses only five of the most harmful species and provides a grace period for selling existing inventory.
- The bill does not address online sales of invasive plants, but it will eliminate most in-state sales of these species, reducing their spread across Missouri.
In the Missouri House, Representative Sassmann has introduced House Bill 60, which mirrors SB 105 but has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
Photo Credit: istock-dusanpetkovic
Categories: Missouri, Government & Policy