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HB1738 • 2026

Holidays and Days of Special Observance

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 15, Chapter 2, relative to native plant month.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Vital, Watson
Last action
2026-03-16
Official status
Effective date(s) 03/06/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on how the designation will be promoted or enforced.

Designate April as Tennessee Native Plant Month

This bill designates April as 'Tennessee Native Plant Month' to raise awareness about native plants and their benefits.

What This Bill Does

  • Makes the month of April 'Tennessee Native Plant Month'.

Terms To Know

Native plants
Plants that naturally grow in a specific area without being introduced by humans.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not provide specific activities or events for Tennessee Native Plant Month.
  • It is unclear how the designation will be promoted or enforced.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 03/06/2026

  2. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 588

  3. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 588

  4. 2026-03-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  6. 2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  7. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  8. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  9. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  10. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  11. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  12. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  13. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  14. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  15. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 92, Nays 0, PNV 0

  16. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  17. 2026-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 2/23/2026

  18. 2026-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 2/23/2026

  19. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 2/19/2026

  20. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  21. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  22. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 2/17/2026

  23. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 2/18/2026

  24. 2026-02-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  25. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee

  26. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Naming & Designating Committee for 2/9/2026

  27. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  28. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Naming & Designating Committee - Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  29. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  30. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  31. 2026-01-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SENATE BILL 2073
By Watson

HOUSE BILL 1738
By Vital
HB1738
011348
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 15,
Chapter 2, relative to native plant month.

WHEREAS, the cultivation, growth, and sale of native plants support Tennessee's robust
agriculture and nursery industries, creating jobs in horticulture, landscaping, and ecotourism
while also increasing property values; and
WHEREAS, native plants, indigenous species that have evolved alongside native wildlife
and occur naturally across the State of Tennessee and in specific geographic regions,
ecosystems, and habitats, are essential for maintaining healthy, diverse, and sustainable
ecosystems; and
WHEREAS, Tennessee is home to over 2,400 native plant species, including large
shade trees, shrubs, perennials, vines, grasses, and wildflowers; and
WHEREAS, native plants are well-adapted to Tennessee's soils, temperatures,
precipitation, and environmental conditions, making them the ideal choice for conserving and
protecting our Tennessee environment and adapting to its changes and playing a crucial role in
cleaning the air, filtering water, and stabilizing soils; and
WHEREAS, it is a policy of this State to encourage public awareness about the benefits
of Tennessee's native plants to pollinators and other wildlife, to the economy, and the health
and sustainability of Tennessee's ecosystem; now, therefore,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 15, Chapter 2, is amended by adding
the following new section:
The month of April of each year is hereby designated as "Tennessee Native
Plant Month" in this state.

- 2 - 011348

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.