State of the States

ASTA is tracking 29 bills in nine states related to invasive species and noxious weeds.
A majority of these bills are seeking additional funding for state-level control and eradication programs. Some bills focus on the structure of these programs and the ability to list problem weeds, and others specify specific weeds for listing, such as Japanese Yew in Idaho, Milkweed in Illinois, and wild Blackberry in Kansas.

In Minnesota, a bill has been introduced that outlines requirements for notifying an adjacent landowner when a noxious weed presence is confirmed. In Pennsylvania, legislation has been in the works for several years to establish a Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Committee under the Secretary of Agriculture. The bill would also provide for the permitting of controlled plants intended to be grown for biomass and biofuel production, or for other beneficial purposes.

We’ll continue to keep you posted as issues and legislation develop.