HOUSE BILL 25-1091
BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Phillips, Bacon, Bradley, Brown, Camacho,
Carter, Clifford, Espenoza, Froelich, Gonzalez R., Lindsay, Lindstedt,
McCormick, Rutinel, Smith, Titone, Valdez, Willford, Joseph, Woodrow;
also SENATOR(S) Mullica.
C
ONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF THE AGARICUS JULIUS MUSHROOM AS
THE STATE MUSHROOM
.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly
finds and declares that:
(a) Mushrooms and fungi play an important role in maintaining the
health of forests and ecosystems.
(b) Agaricus julius is an edible mushroom found in the Rocky
Mountains of Colorado.
(c) After mistaking Agaricus julius for its close relative Agaricus
augustus, or "The Prince mushroom," scientists first identified Agaricus
julius as a distinct species and described it as such in Colorado in 2016.
NOTE: This bill has been prepared for the signatures of the appropriate legislative
officers and the Governor. To determine whether the Governor has signed the bill
or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative
history, or the Session Laws.
________
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law; dashes
through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of
the act. Therefore, Agaricus julius is referred to as "The Emperor formerly known
as Prince."
(d) Agaricus julius is a saprobic mushroom, meaning it decomposes
dead or decaying organic material, thereby recycling nutrients and reducing
wildfire fuel loads.
(e) Agaricus julius appears in high-elevation spruce-fir forests and
has a large cap adorned with brown scales and an odor reminiscent of
almonds.
(f) The inclusion of a symbol from the kingdom of fungi will help
promote and celebrate the importance of fungi and mushrooms in Colorado.
(2) It is therefore the intent of the general assembly that the
Agaricus julius mushroom be added to the array of symbols that
demonstrate our state character and pride.
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-80-916 as
follows:
24-80-916. State mushroom. T
HE AGARICUS JULIUS MUSHROOM ,
COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE EMPEROR MUSHROOM FORMERLY KNOWN AS
PRINCE, IS MADE AND DECLARED TO BE THE STATE MUSHROOM OF THE STATE
OF
COLORADO.
SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act
within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect
unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
PAGE 2-HOUSE BILL 25-1091 November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official
declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.
____________________________ ____________________________
Julie McCluskie James Rashad Coleman, Sr.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PRESIDENT OF
OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE
____________________________ ____________________________
Vanessa Reilly Esther van Mourik
CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE SECRETARY OF
OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE
APPROVED________________________________________
(Date and Time)
_________________________________________
Jared S. Polis
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
PAGE 3-HOUSE BILL 25-1091