The Senate Environment and Energy Committee moves Bill S4636, which aims to establish the NJ Native Seed Commission to develop a plan to increase production and use of native NJ seeds. Photo by Zo Terrana/NJ State House News Service.
By Zo Terrana
NJ State House News Service
TRENTON, N.J. – The Senate Environment and Energy Committee unanimously moved a measure Thursday that would create a New Jersey Native Seed Commission, to increase native plantings along roadways and in habitat restoration.
The measure, S4636, would establish a new commission within the Department of Agriculture.
“The seeds are the future and you don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Sen. Bob Smith, a Piscataway Democrat and committee chair.
The commission’s purposes are to increase the production of native seed, increase their use in various projects like roadside landscaping and ensure that native seeds are commercially available at a reasonable cost.
An identical measure, A1517, sponsored by Democratic Assembly Members Clinton Calabrese of Cliffside Park and Annette Quijano of Elizabeth, unanimously passed the Assembly in June.
“This legislation is about making New Jersey smarter and more resilient in how we manage our public lands and transportation corridors,” Calabrese said. “By expanding the use of native seeds, we can support our environment, strengthen the resilience of our infrastructure and build a stronger foundation for long-term sustainability across our communities and transportation system.”
The commission would have a total of nine members with Gov. Mikie Sherrill selecting six.
The secretary of agriculture, the commissioner of environmental protection and the commissioner of transportation will all serve ex officio.
“By strengthening the availability of native seeds, this bill helps restore natural habitats, protect pollinators, improve biodiversity and build long term environmental resilience across New Jersey,” Quijano said.
Zo Terrana is a senior journalism major at the College of New Jersey.
