Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H3320 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1829 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3320
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Daniel M. Donahue
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act designating the Black Swallowtail as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts official
13	13	butterfly in honor of William P. Callahan III..
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Daniel M. Donahue16th Worcester1/15/2025Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden1/21/2025 1 of 3
17	17	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1829 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
18	18	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3320
19	19	By Representative Donahue of Worcester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3320) of
20	20	Daniel M. Donahue and Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. for legislation to designating the Black
21	21	Swallowtail as the official butterfly of the Commonwealth. State Administration and Regulatory
22	22	Oversight.
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
26	26	(2025-2026)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act designating the Black Swallowtail as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts official
29	29	butterfly in honor of William P. Callahan III..
30	30	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
31	31	of the same, as follows:
32	32	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 2 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section
33	33	263 the
34	34	3 following section: -
35	35	4 Section 64. The Black Swallowtail, scientifically known as Papilio polyxenes, is hereby
36	36	5designated the
37	37	6 official butterfly of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Adorned with striking black
38	38	7wings accented by
39	39	8 yellow spots and blue hindwings, the Black Swallowtail plays a vital role in our
40	40	9ecosystem as a pollinator.
41	41	10 It symbolizes the Commonwealth's commitment to environmental stewardship. 2 of 3
42	42	11 This butterfly is a symbol of natural beauty and a reminder of Massachusetts' rich
43	43	12agricultural history.
44	44	13 Historically common in farm fields, the Black Swallowtail has adapted to various
45	45	14habitats, including the
46	46	15 many meadows, gardens, and urban areas of Massachusetts. Its selection reflects
47	47	16Massachusetts'
48	48	17 dedication to celebrating and protecting its diverse natural environment.
49	49	18 This designation is made in honor of William P. Callahan III, alifelong resident of
50	50	19Massachusetts who
51	51	20 passed away from cancer in August of 2021. Billy could be found chasing and
52	52	21photographing butterflies
53	53	22 throughout New England on nearly every sunny day (and even some mildly rainy ones)
54	54	23for the last
55	55	24 decade before his death. An active member of the Massachusetts Butterfly Club, he took
56	56	25a bucket list trip
57	57	26 to Costa Rica with his daughter Cara in June of 2021 to observe the wide variety of
58	58	27species found there. A
59	59	28 bench is named in his honor at the National Butterfly Center in Mission, Texas. His final
60	60	29excursion was a 3 of 3
61	61	30 walk-through of the Northampton, MA Community Garden, one of his favorite local
62	62	31spots.