February 6, 2026
Wild Ones Members and Friends:
Part of our mission is advocacy for native plants and ecosystems. This Newsletter will go out any time we’ve launched a legislative effort at any level of government, had an impact, or we need you to contact lawmakers by a certain date, etc. We promise it will be infrequent, so if you see this Newsletter in your inbox, you’ll know it contains important information and that your action may be needed.
Please share this Newsletter with anyone you feel may also want to be a voice for change for native plants and ecosystems.
Regina Santore, President, 2026
Wild Ones Smoky Mountains
Advocacy & Action Newsletter
Wild Ones Smoky Mountains made some NOISE for pollinators, native plants and ecosystems! Thanks go to our new Board member, Attorney Don Vowell, for proposing and drafting Resolution SJR0571, which “urges TDOT to consider the plight of monarch butterflies and provide habitat and no-mow areas on highway rights-of-ways” and was voted on by the State Senate Transportation and Safety Committee – passing unanimously, and even being commended by State Senator Heidi Campbell! Watch the video of it passing in Transportation Committee on Feb 3, 2026! It has moved on to Calendar, the next stage of the process.
We need to keep showing support for this Resolution. The more they hear from its supporters, the more likely it is that they will apply pressure on TDOT to find a way to make the resolution become reality. Please take a moment in the next few days to write to the members of the Committee, sharing your support for SJR0571. Here is their contact info page: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/
This is just the first of many gains our Advocacy and Action Committee intends to make over the next several years. YOU can help. If you have a desire to make a difference through legislation, please join the Committee! Contact Committee Chair Don Vowell: [email protected]
Knox County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) update
Knox County is redoing all of its codes and ordinances! This is the PERFECT opportunity to make SURE that native plants, habitats, and ecosystems are represented THROUGHOUT of Knox County’s development laws for the next 40+ years!
Comments on the draft UDO for this round regard proposed zoning districts and uses (Modules A and B). A recording of the meeting, presentation materials, and resources are also available for review on the project website.
Wild Ones Smoky Mountains finds that protection for critical habitat (limestone glades and other irreplaceable ecosystems) is NOT currently represented in these Modules. We ask that your comments suggest a “critical habitat overlay” be created, in order for unusual, important ecological areas to be protected from simply being bulldozed.
Alert: Your comments are needed BEFORE February 10, 2026:
AdvanceKnox.org/UDO/Feedback
AdvanceKnox will announce the February virtual meeting date soon, which will cover Module C – Development Standards.
Thank you for taking the time to participate in making sure our local laws INCLUDE native plants and ecosystems representation!