MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Agriculture

By: Senator(s) Tollison

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE TO REGULATE NOXIOUS PLANTS; TO DECLARE CERTAIN PLANTS AND WEEDS AS NOXIOUS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) The Commissioner of Agriculture may adopt reasonable regulations to implement and carry out the purposes of this act to eradicate, repress and prevent the spread of plant pests and noxious plants and weeds within the state, from within the state to points outside the state, and from outside the state to points within the state. The Commissioner of Agriculture shall adopt regulations for eradicating such plants, pests and noxious plants and weeds as he may deem capable of being economically eradicated, for repressing such as cannot be economically eradicated, and for preventing their spread within the state. The commissioner may also adopt reasonable regulations for preventing the introduction of dangerous plants, pests and noxious plants and weeds from without the state.

(2) The commissioner is authorized, in order to control plant pests, to adopt regulations governing the inspection, certification and movement of nursery stock into the state from outside the state, within the state and from within the state to points outside the state. The commissioner shall designate those plants and weeds deemed noxious. In addition to the plants and weeds designated noxious by the commissioner, the following weeds are declared noxious:

(a) Kudzu;

(b) Hydrilla;

(c) Itchgrass;

(d) Cogongrass; and

(e) Tropical soda apple.

SECTION 2. Section 1 shall be codified in Chapter 25 of Title 69, Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2001.