New York Senate Bill S07359

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/10/25
• Refer: 4/10/25
• Engrossed: 6/5/25
• Refer: 6/5/25
• Engrossed: 6/6/25
• Enrolled: 12/8/25
• Chaptered: 12/19/25
• Passed: 12/19/25

Caption

Directs the commissioner of agriculture and markets, acting by and through the department of economic development, in cooperation with the department of environmental conservation, to establish a New York native plants designation, and offer seals or logos identifying native plants as grown in New York state and certified for their quality, for product labeling, advertising, and displays.

Summary

This bill establishes a new “New York native plants” designation within the Agriculture and Markets Law. The Department of Agriculture and Markets, working with the Department of Environmental Conservation, would be authorized to create seals or logos identifying native plants that are grown in New York and certified for quality. Those marks could be used in product labeling, advertising, and displays to help distinguish qualifying plants in the marketplace. The bill also directs the state to develop standards and guidelines for the designation and to provide educational materials about native plants to horticultural producers, garden centers, consumers, educational institutions, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and relevant agricultural and environmental organizations. For purposes of the program, “native plants” are defined as non-invasive herbaceous and woody species indigenous to New York that are likely to maintain their range or adapt to anticipated climate change in New York and the northeastern United States.

Impact

The bill amends section 16 of the Agriculture and Markets Law by adding a new subdivision authorizing a state-backed native plant certification and labeling program. It creates a framework for official seals or logos, quality certification, and related educational outreach, but does not mandate participation by growers or retailers. The measure is intended to affect horticultural producers, garden centers, consumers, and state agencies involved in agriculture and environmental policy.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have broad support and little visible opposition. It passed the Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously and then cleared both chambers with unanimous floor votes, suggesting a generally favorable view of the proposal across party lines. The lack of recorded dissent indicates the bill was seen as a relatively noncontroversial consumer-information and environmental initiative.

Contention

No major points of contention are reflected in the available committee or floor vote history. The only issues that could potentially invite discussion are the details of how native plants are defined, how quality standards and certification would be set, and how the program would be administered jointly by agriculture and environmental agencies. However, the unanimous votes suggest these matters did not generate significant opposition in the legislative process.