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Cease the Sale Initiative

MoIP defines invasive plants as “aggressive, non-native species whose presence causes or is likely to cause economic harm or environmental. These species grow and reproduce rapidly.” (Modified from Invasive.org.)

MoIP acknowledges that not all non-native plants are invasive. In fact, few are, and of the plants that are invasive, relatively few are readily available. However, plants that are invasive and are still being actively sold and distributed are concerning and limit the effectiveness of invasive-control efforts across Missouri.

In an effort to minimize additional spread of invasive plants and to help lessen the long-term impact of existing problem species, one of MoIP’s foundation goals in 2015, was to propose the idea of a Missouri statute that would cease the sale, propagation, and intentional distribution of some invasive plants. The proposed statute would not penalize property owners for the presence of a known invasive plant.

MoIP envisioned such a statute would be different from the existing Missouri Noxious Weed Law, and would pertain only to the sale, propagation, and intentional distribution of the plant species listed in the legislation, and not regulate the presence of the listed plants on the landscape.

On July 14, 2025, Missouri Governor Kehoe signed Senate Bill 105 into law, which prohibits the sale of six invasive plants. Below is a timeline of the development of MoIP’s “cease-the-sale” idea and its advocacy for eventual legislation.

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Timeline

Bills Passed

Rationale

FAQs

Cease-the-Sale Timeline

  • September 2020: MoIP introduced the idea for statute to the general public via a Grow Native! webinar.
  • Spring 2021: MoIP invited 90+ stakeholder groups to provide input on which of the list of 142 species they would support or oppose being on an eventual “cease the sale” list. Also had personal meetings with the Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Cattleman’s Association, and other groups. 
  • 2023: MoIP Invited the general public to provide input.
  • 2022-2023: MoIP analyzed feedback and compiled a list of top species that are still sold with widespread stakeholder support for inclusion on eventual legislation.
  • 2022-2023: Missouri Representative Sassmann approached MoIP at the quarterly meeting on October 18, 2022, and asked for our top list of invasives in 2023; he was going to introduce a bill to halt the sale of invasive plants.
  • 2024: Sassmann’s and also Senator Bernskoetter’s companion bill did not reach the floor for votes. They both reintroduced bills for the 2025 session. Both bills included five species.
  • 2024-2025: MoIP promoted the bills, encouraged citizens to contact their elected officials, and spoke at public hearings. Missouri Cattleman’s Association asked that a sixth species (perilla) be added.

Cease-the-Sale Bills Passed

Governor Kehoe Signs Missouri Invasive Plant Bill into Law!

On July 14, 2025, Missouri Governor Kehoe signed Senate Bill 105 into law, halting the sale in Missouri of six invasive plants: sericea lespedeza, burning bush (‘Compactus’), Callery pear, Japanese honeysuckle, perilla mint, and wintercreeper (variety Coloratus).

The implementation date for the legislation is August 28, 2025. The legislation allows four plants in the bill to continue to be sold through January 1, 2027, and two others to be sold through January 1, 2029, to mitigate revenue loss for plant sellers who may have a current inventory of any of these species. Read all details in the final bill language here.

This webpage is for the purpose of informing interested parties of the status of ceasing the sale of some invasive plants in Missouri. Click here for more information about the meaning behind the initiative and its origins.

Rationale for Ceasing the Sale of Some Invasive Plants in Missouri

Section 1. Invasive Plant Impacts on Missouri

In late 2020, the Missouri Invasive Plant Council sought stakeholder input about an idea to cease the propagation, sale, and intentional distribution of some invasive plants in our state. MoIP defines “invasive” as an aggressive, non-native plant whose presence causes or is likely to cause economic harm, environmental harm, or harm to human health. This idea was different from the Missouri Noxious Weed Law. (See section 3, “MoIP Rationale and Intentions.”)

Section 2. What Is the Missouri Invasive Plant Council (MoIP)?

The purpose of the council is to review, discuss, and recommend educational and regulatory action related to managing known and potential non-­native invasive plant species that negatively impact natural communities and built landscapes in Missouri and elsewhere in the lower Midwest.

Representatives from the fields of conservation, agriculture, botanical science, ecological services, plant production, horticulture, landscape services and design, and arboriculture make up the council. They communicate MoIP recommendations with their representative organizations to act as a united, supportive front. 

See list of MoIP members and stakeholders.

Section 3. MoIP Rationale and Intentions for Invasive Plant List and Ceasing the Sale of Some Invasive Plants

Private property owners, communities, farmers, business owners, industry, and tax-supported state agencies suffer economic losses controlling invasive plants. While many people are exerting effort to control invasive plants on the ground in Missouri, no state statutes previously existed to stop invasive plants from being sold in the state, beyond the Missouri Noxious Weed Law, which currently prohibits the sale of 12 invasive plants. As we have seen with Callery (Bradford) pear invasion, even plants thought to be sterile are exhibiting significant invasive characteristics in the field.

In an effort to stop any more invasive plant problems before they start, MoIP proposed an idea for state legislation that would prohibit the sale, known distribution, and propagation of some invasive plants. Many states, including Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, and Tennessee also recently passed legislation of this nature, for the benefit of agricultural, horticultural, silvicultural, and other interests of their states. This legislation does not penalize landowners for presence of invasive plants on their property and does not require them to control these plants.

Many Missourians are familiar with the Missouri Noxious Weed Law, which both:

  1. requires property owners to control noxious weeds on their property and 
  2. prohibits noxious weeds from being sold

Violation of either of these provisions is subject to penalty by the county prosecutor.

The state designates 12 species of weeds as noxious. Currently, adding a plant to the Noxious Weed Law list requires review and approval by the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

However, to create a new designation of plants that are banned from sale (but neither penalizes property owners for presence of invasive plants, nor requires them to treat or remove those invasive plants) required changing statutes through the legislative process. For example, Indiana and Ohio recently enacted new state statutes and rules for invasive plants separate from their Noxious Weed Laws. 

MoIP’s idea for a state statute was different from the Missouri Noxious Weed Law in this significant way: it does not penalize property owners for the presence of a known invasive plant. Such a statute is complementary to—not a replacement or alteration of—the Noxious Weed Law.

Section 4. Elements of MoIP's Idea to Cease the Sale of Some Invasive Plants

Voting Body for Inclusion of Species – MoIP recognized the importance of carefully composing a voting body of experts to determine which species would be included on a proposed state statute limiting the sale, propagation, and intentional distribution of certain invasive plants. MoIP researched compositions of voting bodies similar to those of invasive plant regulation efforts in Illinois or Ohio, both of which specifically required to include representatives from horticulture, conservation, and academic sectors.

Restrictions – Except as provided below, under such a statute, a person cannot intentionally propagate, import, transfer, sell, purchase, or introduce any viable part of an invasive plant in the State. These restrictions do not apply to the transfer, lease, sale, or purchase of real property on which an invasive plant is already established.

Phase-Out Periods – Some plants, particularly in the ornamental trade, require multi-year upfront investment before selling to the public. Interested stakeholder groups were invited to recommend a “phase out” period of time during which existing stock of certain invasive plant species may still be legally sold after potential passage of the statute. 

Recommendations for Trade Alternatives – MoIP suggests alternative non-invasive plants with which to replace restricted invasive plants in commerce. Many alternative plants exist, including:

Exemption Options – MoIP explored options for possible exemptions, including:

  • The activity is for the purpose of: 
  • Disposing of the invasive plant
  • Controlling the invasive plant
  • Using the invasive plant for research or educational purposes
  • Commercial and individual floriculture remains – properly discard so viable parts of plant don’t take root or go to seed

Resources for the Regulating Authority – MoIP’s proposal also authorized funding and regulatory authority to the appropriate state agency or other entity to manage the statute.

Declassification – MoIP explored options for possible declassification protocols. For example, Maryland allows for declassification with this language: “A person that requests a declassification of a plant … including cultivars of specific plants presently listed, must submit a written request to the Secretary that includes:

  • Name of the Requestor
  • Contact Information
  • Scientific name of the plant
  • Detailed justification of the request”  

Penalties and Enforcement – The legal authority in charge of implementing any statute determined penalties and enforcement.

Section 5. How MoIP Established Its Initial List of Invasive Plants for Review

  1. Impact: How severe is the current impact of the species on natural communities in each of Missouri’s primary ecological regions?
  2. Current Abundance: Estimate the species current abundance in each of Missouri’s primary ecological regions.
  3. Trend in Distribution and Abundance: Based on observations and regional trends over the past 10 to 20 years, estimate how rapidly the species range will expand to form new occurrences throughout each of Missouri’s primary ecological regions over the next 10 years?

The results are freely available on moinvasives.org. 

  • Rankings are displayed through regional maps accessible as a searchable table or downloadable via Dropbox. 
  • Some species display blank maps because of insufficient review data to populate the map. The ‘insufficient data’ tag in the maps means that there were fewer than 3 reviews for that species/region. There is also a ‘no data’ tag for those without any reviews. Even though some maps show insufficient data for certain plants, they are included in the assessment list of 142 plants because they are known as invasive and/or are regulated in neighboring states.

This assessment has been helpful in determining species of concern with an already established a presence in Missouri and helps natural resource professionals plan control efforts. MoIP invited stakeholder groups to review this list of 142 plants as part of its process for determining a list of some invasive plants to include on a potential statute. Each plant on our list was assessed for review due to data from other regional states and inclusion on invasive.org and other reputable resources.

Section 6. MoIP Process for Science-Based Input and Stakeholder Engagement
  • 2016: Research for the Missouri Invasive Plant Assessment begins compiling extensive research on known and potentially invasive plants, a process that took approximately 75 hours to complete.
  • 2017: Starting with MoIP’s network of local, state and federal agencies and private industries, MoIP sought input from experienced field biologists in Missouri. MoIP received 26 completed reviews.
  • 2018: Data/metrics documented and converted into regional maps.
  • February 2019: Impact analysis/mapping shared online and in presentations, such as to the Missouri Natural Resources Conference.
  • 2020 – Present: Ongoing assessment reviews are conducted with a curated list of experts providing input on invasive spread.

Stakeholder Engagement Phase

  • Winter 2019/2020: MoIP begins gathering reviewer groups/principal contact identification. MoIP begins developing documentation and input tools for review.

  • Establish composition of a review committee for review of stakeholder input

  • Spring 2020: MoIP begins to develop a matrix for summarizing stakeholder input.

  • April 7, 2020: (cancelled due to COVID-19) MoIP invites stakeholders to statewide meeting on invasive plant topics

  • September 2020: introduce idea for statute to general public via a Grow Native! webinar (see recording)

  • December 2020: MoIP reviewed initial feedback to determine its next steps regarding stakeholder input/comment/advisement

  • 2021 – Present: Request for stakeholder and citizen input/comment/advisement

Legislative Advocacy/Engagement Phase

  • In 2023, Missouri State Representative Bruce Sassmann, aware of MoIP’s “cease-the-sale” idea and invasive plant research, requested that MoIP provide him with a list of invasive plants to include in a bill to halt the sale of select invasive plants. Due to MoIP’s work to invite input from stakeholder groups and the general public, the group was able to establish a ranked list of invasive plants with strong support from diverse stakeholders for inclusion in proposed legislation and sent it to Rep. Sassmann.

  • Rep. Sassmann and Missouri Senator Mike Bernskoetter filed companion bills, SB 1281 and HB 2412 for the 2024 General Assembly. Through enewsletters, action alerts, and other communications, MoIP encouraged stakeholder groups and citizens to contact their elected officials to urge them to support these bills. Members of the MoIP Council also testified in hearings of the bills in Senate and House of Representative committees assigned to review the vote on the bills.Rep. Sassmann’s bill, as well as Missouri Senator Mike Bernskoetter’s bills introduced during the 2024 General Assembly ultimately did not reach the floor of the Missouri House or Senate for votes.

  • However, both legislators filed similar bills (HB 60 and SB 105) for the 2025 General Assembly, and again, MoIP advocated for their passage via e-blasts and other communications, and by providing verbal testimony at hearings. Ultimately, on May 15, Senate Bill 105 passed, and on July 14, 2025, Missouri Governor Kehoe signed the bill into law.

  • Following passage of the bill, MoIP is focusing on developing educational materials and strategies to inform consumers why the plants are included in the bill, and to seek out alternatives for landscaping and other planting purposes. Additionally, MoIP seeks to work with plant growers to help them, going forward, to replace invasive plants in their inventories with non-invasive ones.

Appendix A) Full MoIP-Assessed List of Invasive Plants

MoIP has a list of 142 species deemed to be invasive, though rates of invasiveness vary. To view maps associated with this ranked assessment of 142 species, click here.

MoIP invitied approximately 90 stakeholder groups to rate these for what should be included in a proposed cease-the-sale list.

A subset of these plants are sold in farm stores, garden centers, and home improvement stores. Nearly all are available for purchase via the internet.

To re-emphasize, MoIP neither expects nor intends to prohibit sale of all these species. See Section 4 for more information on the process for adding and subtracting plants from the list.

Appendix B) Further Examples of The Impacts of Invasive Plants

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Have more questions? Please email [email protected].

    Does MoIP have the authority to regulate invasive plants?
    Did you ask on the questionnaire the total revenue of each stakeholder so that the percentage impact is put in perspective?
    Who was invited to provide input on plants to include or exclude from a cease-the-sale list?
    Why explore legislative action in addition to educational campaigns?
    Since 2015, MoIP has engaged in numerous outreach opportunities promoting education on the problems, identification, control of invasive plants in Missouri. Our research has found that, while many businesses adapt to knowledge about the impact of invasive plants, some businesses continue to sell known invasive plants as long as the market demands it. This is creating undue burdens on the finances of private landowners and public agencies that spend valuable resources controlling invasive plants that continue to be sold. Stakeholder input determined MoIP advancing to the legislative stage.
    What will you do if you run into opposition?
    What plants are on the final list for ceasing the sale?