JEFFERSON CITY 鈥 A Republican state legislator鈥檚 plan to stop Missouri plant nurseries from selling five invasive species is moving forward in the Missouri House.
The House Conservation and Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved legislation Monday seeking to end the sale of some species starting in 2026.
Species that Rep. Bruce Sassmann, R-Bland, is zeroing in on include well-known invaders such as the Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) and the Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), also known as the Bradford pear.
The remaining targets: Burning bush (Euonymus alatus), Climbing euonymus (Euonymus fortunei) and Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata).
The ban on Climbing euonymus, Japanese honeysuckle and Sericea lespedeza would take effect Jan. 1, 2026.
The ban on Burning bush and Callery pear would take effect Jan. 1, 2028.
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An affidavit nursery dealers would sign as part of their applications for an annual Department of Agriculture registration-inspection certificate would state that the dealer shall not knowingly and intentionally sell the plants in question.
Sassmann said he had been working with the Department of Agriculture for more than a year on ending the sale of nonnative invasive plant species.
鈥淚t is the Missouri Department of Ag that has the statutory authority to license the nursery industry that sells these invasive plants,鈥 Sassmann said.
The legislation is .
Missouri's Legislature reflects the federal structure in many ways. Video by Beth O'Malley
