Bills Propose New Oklahoma State Symbols

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The Oklahoma Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee passed two measures on Monday that would designate several insects and wheat as new state symbols. The bills, if approved, would name the European honey bee as the state agricultural pollinator, the American bumblebee as the state native insect, the Carolina mantis as the state predator insect, and the rainbow scarab as the state soil conservation insect. The committee also passed a bill to designate wheat as the official state crop.

Why it matters

The proposed new state symbols aim to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators and other beneficial insects, as well as the state's leading agricultural crop. Designating these as official state symbols could help promote conservation efforts and celebrate Oklahoma's natural resources.

The details

The two bills were introduced by state senators David Bullard and Roland Pederson. Bullard's bill would establish the new insect symbols, while Pederson's bill would make wheat the official state crop. The measures were prompted in part by the advocacy of 15-year-old 4-H Oklahoma State Ambassador Lucile Morehouse, who has worked to raise awareness about declining pollinator populations.

• The Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee passed the bills on Monday, March 24, 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

If the measures successfully make it through the legislative process, the new state symbols will be added to Oklahoma's growing list of official state symbols, which already includes the American bison as the state animal and the American quarter horse as the state horse.