TN SJR0571

Urges the Tennessee Department of Transportation to dedicate significant sections of highway rights-of-way for planting milkweed and native wildflowers to create monarch butterfly habitat

Requests TDOT identify existing areas where milkweed or wildflowers are currently growing along rights-of-way and refrain from mowing those sections

Highlights that milkweed is essential to monarch butterfly survival as the only plant where they lay eggs and the sole food source for caterpillars

Notes potential cost savings from reduced mowing expenses and tourism benefits from highway wildflower displays

References the Interstate 35 Monarch Butterfly Highway (Texas to Minnesota) as an existing model, with Tennessee highways including I-40, I-75, and I-81 serving as vital migration routes