HOUSE BILL REPORT
SHB 1088
As Passed House
January 16, 1998
Title: An act relating to the state fossil.
Brief Description: Designating Mammuthus primigenius as the official fossil of the state of Washington.
Sponsors: By House Committee on Government Administration (originally sponsored by Representatives Sheahan and Schoesler).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Government Administration: 1/31/97 [DPS].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 2/17/97, 95‑0;
Passed House: 1/16/98, 89-0.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 12 members: Representatives D. Schmidt, Chairman; D. Sommers, Vice Chairman; Scott, Ranking Minority Member; Gardner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Doumit; Dunn; Dunshee; Reams; Smith; L. Thomas; Wensman and Wolfe.
Staff: Bronwyn Mauldin (786-7093).
Background: Washington has designated several official ceremonial symbols over the years. These include the state fish, steelhead trout; the state gem, petrified wood; and the state folk song, ARoll On Columbia, Roll On.@ Washington does not have an official state fossil. Other states have designated state fossils, including the saber-toothed cat in California and the Hagerman Horse Fossil in Idaho.
Summary of Bill: The Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus COLUMBI) is designated as the official fossil of the state of Washington.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: Remains of the Columbian mammoth have been found throughout the state, and therefore this is a fossil that represents the entire state. When our young people are excited about a school project, we should support them. It would be colossal to have a state fossil.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Representative Sheahan, prime sponsor; Sara Jane Aebly, second grade teacher, Windsor Elementary School; and Chris Pineo, student at Windsor Elementary School.