First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REVISED
This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted
on Second Reading in the Second House
LLS NO. 25-0670.01 Caroline Martin x5902
HOUSE BILL 25-1091
House Committees Senate Committees
State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF THE AGARICUS JULIUS MUSHROOM101
AS THE STATE MUSHROOM .102
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov
.)
The bill designates the Agaricus julius mushroom, commonly
known as the Emperor mushroom, as the state mushroom of the state of
Colorado.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SENATE
2nd Reading Unamended
March 11, 2025
HOUSE
3rd Reading Unamended
February 5, 2025
HOUSE
2nd Reading Unamended
February 4, 2025
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Phillips, Bacon, Bradley, Brown, Camacho, Carter, Clifford, Espenoza, Froelich, Gonzalez
R., Lindsay, Lindstedt, McCormick, Rutinel, Smith, Titone, Valdez, Willford
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Mullica,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly1
finds and declares that:2
(a) Mushrooms and fungi play an important role in maintaining3
the health of forests and ecosystems.4
(b) Agaricus julius is an edible mushroom found in the Rocky5
Mountains of Colorado.6
(c) After mistaking Agaricus julius for its close relative Agaricus7
augustus, or "The Prince mushroom," scientists first identified Agaricus8
julius as a distinct species and described it as such in Colorado in 2016.9
Therefore, Agaricus julius is referred to as "The Emperor formerly known10
as Prince."11
(d) Agaricus julius is a saprobic mushroom, meaning it12
decomposes dead or decaying organic material, thereby recycling13
nutrients and reducing wildfire fuel loads.14
(e) Agaricus julius appears in high-elevation spruce-fir forests and15
has a large cap adorned with brown scales and an odor reminiscent of16
almonds.17
(f) The inclusion of a symbol from the kingdom of fungi will help18
promote and celebrate the importance of fungi and mushrooms in19
Colorado.20
(2) It is therefore the intent of the general assembly that the21
Agaricus julius mushroom be added to the array of symbols that22
demonstrate our state character and pride.23
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-80-916 as24
follows:25
24-80-916. State mushroom. T
HE AGARICUS JULIUS MUSHROOM,26
COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE EMPEROR MUSHROOM , IS MADE AND27
1091
-2- DECLARED TO BE THE STATE MUSHROOM OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.1
SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act2
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the3
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except4
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V5
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this6
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take7
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in8
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the9
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.10
1091
-3-