HB955: HB955 Holidays and observances; April of each year as Georgia Native Plant Month; designate

Georgia law currently names the Cherokee rose as the state's official flower and has no designated month honoring native plants. This bill, called the 'Caroline Romberg Silcox Act,' would make two changes to Georgia's symbols and observances laws. First, it adds a new section to Georgia's holidays and observances law (O.C.G.A. Title 1, Chapter 4) declaring April of each year as 'Georgia Native Plant Month.' Second, it rewrites Georgia's state symbols law (O.C.G.A. § 50-3-53) to remove the Cherokee rose as the official state floral emblem and replace it with the sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana). The bill repeals any conflicting laws and does not list a separate effective date beyond standard enactment.

• Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 1-4-28) declaring April of each year as 'Georgia Native Plant Month' in Georgia.
• Rewrites O.C.G.A. § 50-3-53 to remove the Cherokee rose as the state's official floral emblem.
• Names the sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) as the new official state flower of Georgia.
• Gives the Act a short title, the 'Caroline Romberg Silcox Act.'
• Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with these changes.

This mainly affects how Georgia officially describes itself: state government publications, education materials, and civic events that reference the state flower or observe state symbols. It also touches groups promoting native plant awareness, gardeners, and botanical or conservation organizations interested in the April observance.

If enacted, Georgia's official state flower would change from the Cherokee rose to the sweetbay magnolia for the first time, affecting how the state is represented in official materials and civic education, and April would gain formal recognition as a month for native plant awareness.

• Section 1 gives the bill the short title 'Caroline Romberg Silcox Act.'
• Section 2 adds O.C.G.A. § 1-4-28, designating April as 'Georgia Native Plant Month.'
• Section 3 revises O.C.G.A. § 50-3-53 so the sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) replaces the Cherokee rose as the state floral emblem.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting existing laws.

1. 2026-02-25House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
2. 2026-01-15House Second Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-14House First Readers (House)
4. 2026-01-13House Hopper (House)

• Deborah Silcox (R, HD-053)Primary sponsor
• Jan Jones (R, HD-047)
• Scott Hilton (R, HD-048)
• Stacey Evans (D, HD-057)
• Sandy Donatucci (R, HD-105)
• Houston Gaines (R, HD-120)

• state symbols
• native plants
• Georgia history
• holidays and observances