Jeffrey E. Smith, Wisconsin State Senator 31st District | Official Website
Jeffrey E. Smith, Wisconsin State Senator 31st District | Official Website
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "labeling plants as beneficial to pollinators. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill seeks to regulate the labeling and advertising of plants as beneficial to pollinators in Wisconsin. Specifically, it prohibits any person selling or providing plants at retail from labeling them as beneficial to pollinators if the plants have been treated with a systemic insecticide that includes a pollinator protection box or a precautionary statement regarding pollinators, bees, or honeybees on its label. The measure targets plants such as annuals, bedding plants, and nursery stock. The bill is set to take effect on the first day of the seventh month after its publication.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Lee Snodgrass (Democrat-52nd District), Senator Tim Carpenter (Democrat-3rd District), Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), Senator Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), and Senator Dianne H. Hesselbein (Democrat-27th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Representative Deb Andraca (Democrat-23rd District), and Representative Margaret Arney (Democrat-18th District), along with 33 other co-sponsors.
Jeff Smith has authored or co-authored another 27 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Smith, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2019 to represent the state's 31st Senate district, replacing previous state senator Kathleen Vinehout.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB294 | 05/30/2025 | Labeling plants as beneficial to pollinators. (FE) |
| SB293 | 05/30/2025 | Native prairie and forage plants |
| SB292 | 05/30/2025 | Local regulation of pesticides to protect pollinators |
| SB261 | 05/20/2025 | Certain limitations on claiming the veterans and surviving spouses property tax credit. (FE) |
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