Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
State Government Committee

HB 2797

Brief Description:  Declaring the orca whale to be the state mammal.

Sponsors:  Representatives Cairnes, Mitchell, Woods, Sehlin, Reardon, Schindler, Pearson, Simpson, Hunt, Fisher, Sommers, Tokuda, Ericksen, Barlean, Lantz, Rockefeller, McIntire, Morell, Campbell, Jarrett, Sullivan, Dunshee, Gombosky, Anderson, Jackley, Haigh, Lysen and Van Luven.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Designating the orca whale as the state mammal.

Hearing Date:  2/7/02

Staff:  Bree Ramage (786‑7617).

Background:

The Legislature has designated a variety of plants and animals to represent and celebrate the spirit and diverse qualities of Washington.  Washington has no state mammal.  However, the following designations are in Washington law:

$State tree ‑ western hemlock

$State grass ‑ bluebunch wheatgrass

$State flower ‑ rhododendron

$State fruit ‑ apple

$State bird ‑ willow goldfinch

$State fossil ‑ Columbian mammoth of North America

$State fish ‑ steelhead trout

$State insect ‑ green darner dragonfly

$State song ‑ Washington My Home

$State folk song ‑ Roll On Columbia, Roll On

$State dance ‑ square dance

$State gem ‑ petrified wood

$State tartan ‑ green background with stripes of blue, white, yellow, red, and black

$State arboretum ‑ Washington park arboretum

Summary of Bill:

The orca whale is designated as the official mammal of Washington.

Rulemaking Authority:  No express authority.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.