SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3000

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 7, 2019

      The Senate Environment and Energy Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 3000.

      This bill would establish the “Jersey Native Plants Program” in the Department of Agriculture.  The bill would direct the department to develop a program that would:  (1) encourage and promote the sale of New Jersey native plants at retail garden centers and nurseries; (2) increase consumer awareness of the important role of native plants in the ecosystem through advertising campaigns and marketing programs; (3) provide for the dissemination of information about the variety and availability of New Jersey native plants; and (4) create a labeling program to identify native plants as “Jersey Natives”  similar to the “Jersey Fresh” and “Jersey Grown” programs.