Revamped Invasive Species Bills Head to Governor for Second Time

RICHMOND, Va. — Lawmakers recently sent the governor twin bills that he vetoed last year, which aim to protect the state’s native wildlife by educating consumers on invasive plants.

Del. Holly Seibold, D-Fairfax, introduced House Bill 1941 and Sen. Saddam Salim, D-Fairfax, introduced Senate Bill 1166. The bills, which passed with bipartisan support, require stores to post signage to educate shoppers on invasive species and encourage native plants as an alternative.

Consumers are often unaware of the harm that these readily available plants can cause when introduced to local environments, according to Seibold.

“Not only do these invasive plants degrade Virginia’s ecosystems, but they can also harm the infrastructure around us by clogging waterways and impeding power line access,” Seibold said in a subcommittee meeting.

Christopher Leyen lobbied with Blue Ridge Prism, a nonprofit dedicated to invasive plant education, to get the bills passed. The main goal of the bills is to ensure consumers are aware of invasive plants and their impact beyond common knowledge, according to Leyen.

“It allows you to be thoughtful about how you use that plant,” Leyen said. “Are you disposing of it properly? Are you planting it in ways that it’s not going to spread?”

Invasive species cost Virginia more than $1 billion a year, according to the Virginia Invasive Species Working Group. They cause the decline of native species by stealing necessary resources and habitats, and often spread quickly due to a lack of native predators.

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Stores posting signage near invasive plants is an easy, cost-effective way to educate consumers on these effects, according to Leyen.

“What takes you pennies to implement saves thousands, hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Leyen said.

This is the second attempt by lawmakers to pass such legislation, after Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed both bills last year. Youngkin supported educating consumers on invasive species but was against the $500 fine enacted on businesses “for the sale of plants with low levels of invasiveness,” according to his veto statement. The bills also overstepped the state’s authority, he said.

The current version of the bills removed the fine. The commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services would instead issue a stop-sale order on unlabeled plants, which would be lifted as soon as signage was placed.

A smaller, more specific list of 39 invasive species was created from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s established list of 103 species. It was developed to most effectively target invasive plants sold in stores, Leyen said. The list includes species such as the Bradford pear tree, periwinkle, fountain grass, English ivy and more.

The state government already prohibits invasive species from being planted on state grounds, and commercial landscapers must notify landowners before planting them. These bills are merely closing the gap for retail customers, according to Leyen.

The governor has until March 24 to approve, amend or veto legislation.

By Sarah Hagen/VCU Capital News Service

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