Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) is asking for your support for several important pieces of legislation that will help control invasive plant species in the Blue Ridge Mountains and throughout Virginia.
The bills have “crossed over” to the opposite chamber of the Virginia Legislature: House bills are now in front of the Senate, and Senate bills are now in front of the House. In order to make it to the governor’s desk, each bill now has to pass this second round of voting.
According to PRISM
House bills
HB 109 —removes the language that prohibits adding an invasive plant to the Noxious Weeds List if it is currently being grown or sold in Virginia.
HB 88 — ensures that invasive plants will not be planted along state highways and the state will develop a plan for managing existing invasive plants along our highways.
HB 388 — expands the powers of local public service districts to include invasive plant treatment and control (this is a companion bill to SB 89, below).
Why these matter:
- Current law allows invasive plants to be sold in Virginia as long as they are considered “commercially viable.”
- Virginia has 63,000 miles of roadways that make it easy for invasive plants to spread via vehicle tire treads and mowing equipment.
- Public service districts are used to provide landscaping, beautification, pest control, and more. Controlling invasive plants needs to be added to the list.
Senate Bills
SB 89 — expands the powers of local public service districts to include invasive plant treatment and control (this is a companion bill to HB 388, above).
SB 163 — permits volunteers to use herbicides on state lands while under the supervision of a licensed commercial pesticide applicator.
Why these matter:
- Public service districts are used to provide landscaping, beautification, pest control, and more. Controlling invasive plants needs to be added to the list.
- State parks are underfunded and understaffed, and they need help from volunteers to treat and control invasive plants.
Prism has detailed information on exactly how you can help enact these important laws and even has a short script you can follow in communication with your State senator or State Representative.
To connect with PRISM
