A 7964: Directs the commissioner of agriculture and markets, acting by and through the department of economic development, in cooperation with the department of environmental conservation, to establish a New York native plants designation, and offer seals or logos identifying native plants as grown in New York state and certified for their quality, for product labeling, advertising, and displays.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 7964 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY April 16, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. KELLES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to estab- lishing a New York native plants designation within the New York state grown and certified program The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 16 of the agriculture and markets law is amended by 2 adding a new subdivision 2-h to read as follows: 3 2-h. Establish, in cooperation with the department of environmental 4 conservation, a New York native plants designation within the New York 5 state grown and certified program, for native plants grown, cultivated, 6 harvested, or distributed by nurseries, plant farms, garden centers, and 7 other horticultural vendors within the state. The department, in cooper- 8 ation with the department of environmental conservation, shall establish 9 appropriate standards and guidelines for such designation and provide 10 for the use of seals, labeling, or other appropriate identification for 11 certified New York native plants. The department shall further provide 12 educational materials promoting awareness and understanding of native 13 plants under the New York native plants designation to horticultural 14 producers, garden centers, consumers, educational institutions, Cornell 15 cooperative extension, and relevant agricultural and environmental 16 organizations. For the purposes of this subdivision, "native plants" 17 shall mean non-invasive herbaceous and woody plant species that are 18 indigenous to New York state and are likely to maintain their range or 19 successfully adapt to anticipated climate changes in New York state and 20 the northeastern United States. 21 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD11627-01-5