Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
State Government & Tribal Relations Committee
ESB 5512
Brief Description: Designating a state nickname.
Sponsors: Senators Honeyford, Hasegawa, Lovick, Mullet, Randall, Rolfes and Wagoner.
Brief Summary of Engrossed Bill
  • Designates "The Evergreen State" as the official state nickname.
Hearing Date: 2/17/22
Staff: Jessica Cable (786-7290) and Desiree Omli (786-7105).
Background:

Washington was admitted as the forty-second state in the union on November 11, 1889.  It is the only state named after a president.  In the late 1800s, Charles Tallmadge (C.T.) Conover, a pioneer Seattle realtor, newspaper columnist, and historian, nicknamed Washington "The Evergreen State" for its abundant evergreen forests.


"The Evergreen State" is generally accepted as the unofficial nickname for the state of Washington.  The nickname can be seen engraved on Washington State license plates, on memorabilia sold at souvenir shops, and inscribed on the April 2007 United States memorial quarter honoring Washington State.  While many state symbols, including the official state flag, song, dance, and seal, have been officially designated as such by the Legislature, no official state nickname has been designated.
Summary of Bill:

"The Evergreen State" is designated as the official state nickname.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.