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Senate committee urges TDOT to protect monarch butterfly habitat along rights-of-way
Summary
SJR 571, recognizing monarch butterflies' ecological role and urging TDOT to preserve milkweed and native wildflowers in rights-of-way and limit mowing, passed unanimously in committee and was sent to the calendar.
Vice Chair introduced SJR 571, a resolution noting monarch butterflies are in danger and asking the Tennessee Department of Transportation to identify roadside areas where milkweed and native wildflowers grow and avoid mowing there unless necessary.
Vice Chair summarized the biology underpinning the measure, saying monarchs “actually use the milkweed to lay their eggs and the wildflowers and the milkweed are their food source,” and explained the resolution urges TDOT to consider dedicating portions of road and highway rights-of-way to those plants to provide habitat.
Senator Campbell asked to sign on in support; the committee then voted with the clerk recording Senators Bailey, Briggs, Campbell, Hatcher, Potee, Powers, Seale, Taylor and Chairlady Massey as voting aye. The resolution passed unanimously and will be placed on the calendar for further consideration.
The resolution is advisory and directs TDOT to identify and, where practicable, avoid mowing existing stands of milkweed and native wildflowers to support monarch migration and breeding.
