---
title: HB 955. Holidays and observances; April of each year as Georgia Native Plant Month; designate
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb955
cite_as: HB 955, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb955
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb955.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb955/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72180
date: 2026-02-25
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 185
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb955.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 955
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-01-13
last_action: House Committee Favorably Reported
sponsors:
- Deborah Silcox
- Jan Jones
- Scott Hilton
- Stacey Evans
- Sandy Donatucci
- Houston Gaines
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB955/2025
upstream_id: 2073968
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- state symbols
- native plants
- Georgia holidays and observances
- state flower
---
# HB 955. Holidays and observances; April of each year as Georgia Native Plant Month; designate
## Text
House Bill 955
By: Representatives Silcox of the 53rd, Jones of the 47th, Hilton of the 48th, Evans of the 57th,
Donatucci of the 105th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
holidays and observances, so as to designate April of each year as Georgia Native Plant
Month; to amend Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to other state symbols, so as to change the state floral emblem to the
sweetbay magnolia; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Caroline Romberg Silcox Act."
SECTION 2.
Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to holidays and
observances, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"1-4-28.
The month of April of each year is designated as 'Georgia Native Plant Month' in Georgia."
SECTION 3.
Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to other
state symbols, is amended by revising Code Section 50-3-53, relating to state floral emblem,
as follows:
"50-3-53.
The Cherokee rose sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) is adopted as the floral
emblem of the State of Georgia."
SECTION 4.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
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.
### Plain-language summary
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 it 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.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-01-13)
- Last action: House Committee Favorably Reported (2026-02-25)
- Sponsors: Deborah Silcox, Jan Jones, Scott Hilton, Stacey Evans, Sandy Donatucci, Houston Gaines
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72180
> The history, votes, and amendments (185 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb955.md?full=1