South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
Committee Report April 15, 2025 H. 4211 Introduced by Reps. Sanders, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, B. J. Cox, B. L. Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J. E. Johnson, J. L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, May, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Murphy, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Schuessler, Sessions, G. M. Smith, M. M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow S. Printed 4/15/25--S. Read the first time March 26, 2025 ________ The committee on Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H. 4211) to recognize the essential value and importance of South Carolina native plants to the state's environment, landscape, agriculture, history, and economy, and to, etc., respectfully Report: That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass with amendment: Whereas, this resolution is not state law. It is merely intended to encourage the people of South Carolina to plant and foster the growth of plants native to South Carolina. Now, therefore, Renumber sections to conform. Amend title to conform. WES CLIMER for Committee. _______ A concurrent RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE THE ESSENTIAL VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF SOUTH CAROLINA NATIVE PLANTS TO THE STATE'S ENVIRONMENT, LANDSCAPE, AGRICULTURE, HISTORY, AND ECONOMY, AND TO ENCOURAGE STATE AGENCIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO USE NATIVE PLANTS FOR LANDSCAPING, EROSION CONTROL, AND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT WHENEVER POSSIBLE TO PROMOTE THE VIABILITY OF MIGRATORY AND NONMIGRATORY POLLINATORS AND TO HELP to PRESERVE SOUTH CAROLINA'S UNIQUE FLORA AND FAUNA. Whereas, South Carolina's native plants provide iconic, economic, artistic, historical, and environmental values, unparalleled for beauty and unique to the history of the State and its future; and Whereas, native plants are those which occur naturally in the specific regions in which they evolved, including our estuarine and tidal freshwater, maritime strand, freshwater wetlands, river and palustrine forested wetlands, and associated coastal uplands; and Whereas, South Carolina contains over four thousand native plant species, subspecies, and varieties, making South Carolina home to a tremendously rich and diverse plant life, and twenty-one of those species are considered to be threatened or endangered; and Whereas, maintaining and restoring the native plant habitat in South Carolina is vital to preserving South Carolina's present and future biodiversity amid a changing environment; and Whereas, native plants are more drought-tolerant, provide essential food sources for insects, birds, and wildlife, and require less water. They also act as natural pollinators and help filter out fertilizers and chemicals, promoting water conservation and improving the quality of stormwater runoff. Additionally, native plants enhance the resilience of ecosystems in South Carolina; and Whereas, native plants provide high-quality food and shelter for more than three hundred resident and migratory bird species in South Carolina, one hundred sixty-one of which are species of greatest conservation need; and Whereas, South Carolina currently contends with over ninety invasive and exotic plants, many of which compete with native plant species, degrade soil, facilitate erosion, require more fertilizers and chemicals, provide fewer food sources to native birds and other wildlife, and alter the state's natural landscapes; and Whereas, the state's original Native American residents lived and thrived by knowledge of native plants which provided generations with food, clothing, shelter, dyes, tools, medicines, and fuel; and Whereas, from the state's earliest time, native flora and fauna have provided a rich landscape, inspiring and influencing notable literary and artistic works by internationally recognized figures and thereby securing South Carolina's legacy in natural heritage; and Whereas, South Carolina's native plants and their derivatives have provided essential foods, medicines, and other products of global import since the colonial period, while native plants, such as sweet grass and Carolina yellow jessamine, play an important role in the state's cultural heritage; and Whereas, native plant horticulture contributes significantly to the state's economy and employs thousands of South Carolinians, providing a thriving, vital, and ever-expanding industry, who do their part to preserve, protect, and restore precious native habitats by using South Carolina native plants whenever possible for landscaping, erosion control, and vegetation management; and Whereas, the state's native plants provide essential watershed protection, helping natural aquifers recharge, serving to filter water naturally flowing into rivers and estuaries, lessening erosion and flooding, and supporting rich biodiversity in birds and wildlife; and Whereas, gardens and landscapes comprised of South Carolina's native plants require far fewer fertilizers, soil amendments, or pesticides, and use significantly less water compared to nonnative plants; and Whereas, pollinators such as birds, bees, and insects, including migratory butterflies, hummingbirds, and other threatened species, depend on the biodiversity of native plants for their survival; and Whereas, many native South Carolina plants have played a vital role in state and national history, compelling the United States Congress, the State of South Carolina, and many local communities throughout the State to protect the beauty, power, and grandeur of our wild spaces; and Whereas, planting, restoration, preservation, and cultivation of the state's indigenous plants provides a natural link to wild land areas present and past, while presenting beauty and benefit and instilling a greater appreciation for South Carolina's natural heritage. Now, therefore, Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring: That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize the essential value and importance of South Carolina's native plants to the state's environment, landscape, agriculture, history, and economy and encourage all state agencies, local governments and private landowners to use native plants for landscaping, erosion, and vegetation management whenever possible to promote the viability of migratory and nonmigratory pollinators and to help to preserve South Carolina's unique flora and fauna. Be it further resolved that the Department of Administration is urged to circulate this concurrent resolution to all state agencies and state governmental units engaged in or overseeing the landscaping or grounds maintenance of properties so that they are made aware of the General Assembly's interest in this matter. ----XX---
Committee Report
April 15, 2025
H. 4211
Introduced by Reps. Sanders, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, B. J. Cox, B. L. Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J. E. Johnson, J. L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, May, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Murphy, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Schuessler, Sessions, G. M. Smith, M. M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow
S. Printed 4/15/25--S.
Read the first time March 26, 2025
________
The committee on Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources
To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H. 4211) to recognize the essential value and importance of South Carolina native plants to the state's environment, landscape, agriculture, history, and economy, and to, etc., respectfully
Report:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Whereas, this resolution is not state law. It is merely intended to encourage the people of South Carolina to plant and foster the growth of plants native to South Carolina. Now, therefore,
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
WES CLIMER for Committee.
_______
A concurrent RESOLUTION
TO RECOGNIZE THE ESSENTIAL VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF SOUTH CAROLINA NATIVE PLANTS TO THE STATE'S ENVIRONMENT, LANDSCAPE, AGRICULTURE, HISTORY, AND ECONOMY, AND TO ENCOURAGE STATE AGENCIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO USE NATIVE PLANTS FOR LANDSCAPING, EROSION CONTROL, AND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT WHENEVER POSSIBLE TO PROMOTE THE VIABILITY OF MIGRATORY AND NONMIGRATORY POLLINATORS AND TO HELP to PRESERVE SOUTH CAROLINA'S UNIQUE FLORA AND FAUNA.
Whereas, South Carolina's native plants provide iconic, economic, artistic, historical, and environmental values, unparalleled for beauty and unique to the history of the State and its future; and
Whereas, native plants are those which occur naturally in the specific regions in which they evolved, including our estuarine and tidal freshwater, maritime strand, freshwater wetlands, river and palustrine forested wetlands, and associated coastal uplands; and
Whereas, South Carolina contains over four thousand native plant species, subspecies, and varieties, making South Carolina home to a tremendously rich and diverse plant life, and twenty-one of those species are considered to be threatened or endangered; and
Whereas, maintaining and restoring the native plant habitat in South Carolina is vital to preserving South Carolina's present and future biodiversity amid a changing environment; and
Whereas, native plants are more drought-tolerant, provide essential food sources for insects, birds, and wildlife, and require less water. They also act as natural pollinators and help filter out fertilizers and chemicals, promoting water conservation and improving the quality of stormwater runoff. Additionally, native plants enhance the resilience of ecosystems in South Carolina; and
Whereas, native plants provide high-quality food and shelter for more than three hundred resident and migratory bird species in South Carolina, one hundred sixty-one of which are species of greatest conservation need; and
Whereas, South Carolina currently contends with over ninety invasive and exotic plants, many of which compete with native plant species, degrade soil, facilitate erosion, require more fertilizers and chemicals, provide fewer food sources to native birds and other wildlife, and alter the state's natural landscapes; and
Whereas, the state's original Native American residents lived and thrived by knowledge of native plants which provided generations with food, clothing, shelter, dyes, tools, medicines, and fuel; and
Whereas, from the state's earliest time, native flora and fauna have provided a rich landscape, inspiring and influencing notable literary and artistic works by internationally recognized figures and thereby securing South Carolina's legacy in natural heritage; and
Whereas, South Carolina's native plants and their derivatives have provided essential foods, medicines, and other products of global import since the colonial period, while native plants, such as sweet grass and Carolina yellow jessamine, play an important role in the state's cultural heritage; and
Whereas, native plant horticulture contributes significantly to the state's economy and employs thousands of South Carolinians, providing a thriving, vital, and ever-expanding industry, who do their part to preserve, protect, and restore precious native habitats by using South Carolina native plants whenever possible for landscaping, erosion control, and vegetation management; and
Whereas, the state's native plants provide essential watershed protection, helping natural aquifers recharge, serving to filter water naturally flowing into rivers and estuaries, lessening erosion and flooding, and supporting rich biodiversity in birds and wildlife; and
Whereas, gardens and landscapes comprised of South Carolina's native plants require far fewer fertilizers, soil amendments, or pesticides, and use significantly less water compared to nonnative plants; and
Whereas, pollinators such as birds, bees, and insects, including migratory butterflies, hummingbirds, and other threatened species, depend on the biodiversity of native plants for their survival; and
Whereas, many native South Carolina plants have played a vital role in state and national history, compelling the United States Congress, the State of South Carolina, and many local communities throughout the State to protect the beauty, power, and grandeur of our wild spaces; and
Whereas, planting, restoration, preservation, and cultivation of the state's indigenous plants provides a natural link to wild land areas present and past, while presenting beauty and benefit and instilling a greater appreciation for South Carolina's natural heritage. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize the essential value and importance of South Carolina's native plants to the state's environment, landscape, agriculture, history, and economy and encourage all state agencies, local governments and private landowners to use native plants for landscaping, erosion, and vegetation management whenever possible to promote the viability of migratory and nonmigratory pollinators and to help to preserve South Carolina's unique flora and fauna.
Be it further resolved that the Department of Administration is urged to circulate this concurrent resolution to all state agencies and state governmental units engaged in or overseeing the landscaping or grounds maintenance of properties so that they are made aware of the General Assembly's interest in this matter.
----XX---
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