Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 955: Holidays and observances; April of each year as Georgia Native Plant Month; designate
Last action February 25, 2026 · House Committee Favorably Reported
A Georgia House bill would designate April as Georgia Native Plant Month and replace the Cherokee rose with the sweetbay magnolia as the state's official floral emblem.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
This bill makes two changes to Georgia law. First, it adds a new section to the state's holidays and observances law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 4 of Title 1) naming April of each year 'Georgia Native Plant Month.' Second, it amends the state symbols law (O.C.G.A. § 50-3-53) to swap out the Cherokee rose, Georgia's current state flower, in favor of the sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) as the new official state floral emblem. The bill is given a short title, the 'Caroline Romberg Silcox Act.' It does not create any new funding, penalties, or enforcement mechanisms; it simply changes what the state officially designates and recognizes. Like most bills, it also repeals any existing laws that conflict with these changes.
What the bill does
- Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 1-4-28) declaring April of each year as 'Georgia Native Plant Month.'
- Changes Georgia's official state flower from the Cherokee rose to the sweetbay magnolia by amending O.C.G.A. § 50-3-53.
- Gives the bill a short title, the 'Caroline Romberg Silcox Act.'
- Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with these new designations.
Who it affects
This bill mainly affects the state's official symbols and calendar of observances, so its direct impact falls on state government recordkeeping rather than any regulated industry. Georgians interested in native plants, gardening groups, schools, and anyone who references the state's official symbols would see the change.
Why it matters
The bill does not regulate behavior or spend money; it changes what Georgia officially celebrates and recognizes as its state flower. The practical effect is largely symbolic and educational, potentially shaping how the state promotes native plant awareness and how textbooks or official materials describe the state flower.
Key provisions
- Section 1 titles the bill the 'Caroline Romberg Silcox Act.'
- Section 2 adds new Code Section 1-4-28 designating April as 'Georgia Native Plant Month' in Georgia.
- Section 3 revises Code Section 50-3-53 to remove the Cherokee rose and adopt the sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) as the state floral emblem.
- Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard closing provision.
From the bill
“The month of April of each year is designated as 'Georgia Native Plant Month' in Georgia.”
“sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) is adopted as the floral emblem of the State of Georgia.”
Discussed in meetings (5)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House Special Rules Committee, February 24, 2026
From 0:03:04 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented HB 955 as replacing the Cherokee rose with sweetbay magnolia as Georgia’s state floral emblem. The sponsor said the Cherokee rose came from China, while sweetbay magnolia is native, grows throughout Georgia, and supports the state butterfly. The sponsor reported support from tribal councils and the Department of Agriculture, and said a Capitol tour had dispelled concerns about costly changes to floral decorations. A Georgia Native Plant Society witness said the change would raise awareness of native plants’ role in healthy ecosystems, stating that 90% of insects lay eggs only on their native host plants. One member questioned textbook changes and suggested recognizing sweetbay magnolia separately while keeping the existing flower. The sponsor welcomed textbook updates as an educational opportunity and opposed a separate designation as undermining the proposal’s purpose. Another member asked about the Department of Agriculture’s position, and the sponsor reiterated its support. The committee approved the measure by voice vote and sent it to Rules.
House Rules Committee, March 2, 2026
From 0:26:00 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 955 would replace the Cherokee rose with the sweetbay magnolia as the state flower and designate April as Native Plant Month. The sponsor described the magnolia as native and the rose as originating in China, and said the measure would encourage native planting to protect Georgia's ecology. No questions or decision followed.
Status timeline
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Deborah Silcox (R, HD-53)
- Jan Jones (R, HD-47)
- Scott Hilton (R, HD-48)
- Stacey Evans (D, HD-57)
- Sandy Donatucci (R, HD-105)
- Houston Gaines (R, HD-120)
Topics
- state symbols
- native plants
- Georgia holidays and observances
- state flower